James A. Garfield was the twentieth president of the United States. He was the second president to be assassinated. It happened in 1881, just four months after his inauguration. He was also the first left-handed president to occupy the Oval Office.

Garfield was the last president to be born in a log cabin, and he rose from poverty to become a professor and school president by 26!

He was an extremely gifted man! Legend has it he could write with both hands at once, writing Greek in one hand and Latin in the other.

He also became the first American presidential candidate to deliver a campaign speech in a language other than English, when he noticed a large group of German Americans in a crowd and addressed them in their native tongue.

James Garfield could do a lot!
But all of the above don’t hold a candle to this:

He was nicknamed the “preacher president.” He was serious about his faith. James converted to Christianity at a camp meeting in 1850. The next day he was baptized in the Disciples of Christ Church.

“Today I was buried with Christ in baptism and arose to walk in the newness of life,” he wrote.

What a great reminder that our gifts and skills will never be more important than our faith. Our relationship with Christ is eternal!

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12 NIV)

I love you!
Susie