March Discussion

I hope that you all enjoyed reading Washington's Lady as much as I did. I enjoyed learning new things about them as a couple and as individuals. For instance I did not know that Martha had been married before and many other things. I was going to come up with some questions of my own but I found some really good ones in the back of the book and I am just going to use those instead.

1. Martha longed for more children. How did she handle this disappointment? Did she handle it well? Why do you think she and George had no children?
I think she handle her disappointment as best she could and I think to fill that void she let her children get away with anything and when she would visit George on the battlefield she would mother the soldiers. I think they didn't have anymore children because George couldn't.

2. What did you think about Martha's lack of parenting her children and her refusal to let George discipline them?
I found that Martha struggled as so many mothers do when it comes to disciplining their own children. You have to find that balance of being a friend and a parent, but Martha seemed to turn a blind eye to when her children did something naughty. Martha let Jack especially do whatever he wanted and as he grew up he was a very irresponsible, reckless person. In the end I believe her children suffered from her lack of disciplining them. Had George been able to help I believe that Jack would have turned out differently.

3. It's been said that without George Washington there would be no United States, but without Martha, there would be no George Washington. How so?
Through out their relationship Martha was always by George's side and encouraging him to do what he needed to do. When he was at war she would travel to be with him and support and boost his spirits the best she could. No matter the trials they went through Martha always supported George no questions asked.

4. The great sorrow Martha experienced at George's death broke her (can you blame her?), yet she found solace in the thought of being together again in heaven. When have you found peace in this promise?
I can't blame her at all. I believe that Martha loved George more then her first husband and his death was just more then she could handle. I think being members of the church we can find that peace when anyone we know passes away knowing that they are on the other side of the veil waiting for us to join them.

5. This nation was created "under God." God intervened in many ways. Name some of the places where you see his hand. Where do you see God's hand in the world today?
I see God's hand in everything. If you are looking for it and are open to the spirit you can find God's hand everywhere. I see it in the beauty of the earth, the church, the missionaries spreading the word of God, our families, and even in our trials. Sometimes we have to experience the unpleasant things in life to appreciate the beauty around us.

These were just some of the questions that jumped out at me. I am looking forward to seeing what you guys thought about it.