It was 1801 when our fledgling nation saw its first peaceful transfer of power. John Adams lost the presidential election to Thomas Jefferson. The men were from different political parties and the race was bitterly fought. When the time came, though, Adams graciously relinquished his position. In fact, he slipped away after dark the evening before Jefferson was inaugurated.
Adams was the first person to live in the White House, moving in just five months before moving out. Jefferson was the first president to live there during his entire presidency, living there from 1801-1809.
Through the years, this peaceful transfer of power was the unwritten rule. In 2020, President Trump declared that he would not participate in a peaceful transfer of power if he lost his reelection bid. This prompted the Senate in September 2020 to unanimously pass a resolution committing to a peaceful transition of power and opposing any attempt “by the President or any person in power to overturn the will of the people of the United States…
“The measure, authored by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, warns, in part, “Whereas any disruption occasioned by the transfer of the executive power could produce results detrimental to the safety and well-being of the United States and its people …” and ends saying that the Senate “intends that there should be no disruptions by the President or any person in power to overturn the will of the people of the United States…
“As the day began Thursday, the top Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch
McConnell, pushed back on Trump, tweeting, “The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792,” but like others did not mention Trump by name.”1
Traditionally, the outgoing president leaves a note in the Oval Office desk for the incoming president. One of the most gracious letters was written by President George H.W. Bush to incoming President Bill Clinton.
Written on White House stationary, the note reads:
Jan 20, 1993
Dear Bill,
When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too.
I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described.
There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course.
You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well.
Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.
Good luck — George
President Bush was a one-term president. He could have reacted with bitterness and contempt, but he chose the high road and showed exceptional class and grace.
How do we handle defeat? How do we respond to the person who may have won our position at work or on a committee?
Quite often, our mouths could speak things that would be neither Godly nor gracious. Controlling our tongues is a 24/7/365 battle that James says is impossible when we try to do it in our own strength. With God’s help, though, and the Holy Spirit’s conviction, we can practice these verses:
Psalms 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Psalms 34:13 “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”
Psalms 39:1 “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”
Proverbs 16:21, 24 “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning… (24) Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Many more verses could be added that demonstrate the necessity of keeping our tongue in check. Jesus said in Matthew 15:18, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” If the tongue isn’t right, neither is the heart. Fix the heart and the tongue is fixed.
What does your tongue and mine reveal about our hearts?
1https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/unanimous-senate-commits-peaceful-transfer-power-trump-refuses/story?id=732167581
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