President Reagan would have been 100 years old this weekend. I wished so much that he was still alive and still the same ol’ Great Communicator giving his inspirational speeches and witty one-liners. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried like a baby when he died seven years ago. The things that made him such a great man go way beyond his political views. President Reagan was the epitome of humility and modesty in a public servant. He was also a very godly man who set an example of how to stand up for your convictions while at the same time being respectful and not engaging in personal attacks against people who disagree with you. Politically, President Reagan brought many conservative views into the mainstream of American politics. It was Reagan who made the abortion issue and the pro-life movement an integral part of Presidential politics. It was Reagan who championed bringing prayer back into public schools. It was Reagan who educated the masses about the benefits of cutting taxes to stimulate the economy. It was Reagan who brought down the Soviet Union without firing a single shot. It was Reagan who stopped (at least temporarily) the progressive march of big government liberalism in its tracks. Without a doubt, my favorite Reagan quote was the famous quip from his inaugural address in 1981: “Government is not the solution to the problem, government IS the problem. ” Its not an understatement to say that Ronald Reagan spawned an entire generation of conservatives and his views are still as relevant and poignant as they were back in the 1960′s when he first came on the national scene espousing his limited government conservative viewpoints.

I was only nine years old when he first got elected President but I can still remember it to this day. All seemed right in the world during his eight years in office. There is no political figure in my lifetime who has had the influence on me the way he did. It was more than just politics. I think we can all learn something from him about how to conduct ourselves in public especially with those who have different views than we have. I really miss you President Reagan. I pray that God sends us more public servants that emulate not only your policy ideas but also your gentle spirit and your character. God rest your soul.