I can’t let this month go by without paying some respect and thanks for all our U.S. Presidents. This in light of the recent poll by historians citing, in their opinion, the top ten Presidential mistakes made in the last 217 years. Yes, there have been some humdingers. If they could rise from the grave, I’m sure many would like to take something back and do it over a different way.

Still, it is remarkable to me how many things have been done right and how often a president rose to challenging occasions with courage, wisdom and remarkable selflessness. Wasn’t it the presidential wannabe, Adlai Stevenson who said; “In a democracy, people get the government they deserve”?

I don’t know if we have always deserved some of the great Presidents we’ve had except that perhaps God cast a ballot too. Proverbs 21:1 says; “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” God is the authority behind every government head. He will weave in even the mistakes of presidents to work out his ultimate plan for our country.

How can we deserve more good presidents? “Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation” (1 Timothy 2:1 – The Message). Let’s keep praying that we might deserve the good presidents He grants us.