The personal sacrifices that John and Abigail gave for this country's birth are so great a measure that it is hard to fathom. The cost of seeing a vision and holding on to that vision requires ones total devotion to it "no matter what". The "no matter what" part is often times easier said than done. What would i do under the same circumstances. What would i expect my husband to do? Would i support him as she did "no matter what?" "No matter what " the cost would be to me? When i read that John and Abigail had been married 14 years, but only 7 of those years had they been together, i suddenly realized the personal cost of their commitment to the vision they both held so dear. A vision of birthing a new country, not any ordinary country, but a free country with free people, with a government designed for the people by the people. Unlike any other country in the world. That is quite a vision.
I remember reading of many hardships that John and Abigail went through, most of which were on their own, separated from each other. I recall each of them leaning on their commitment and faith in God by quoting verses from the Bible that gave them strength, their commitment to each other and their children knowing that the freedom obtained would ensure their children to walk and grow in liberty; and of course their commitment to their vision. A few examples of extreme hardships that they endured were: when Abigail took the family to Boston to be immunized for small pox while John was at his post in Philadelphia; having a baby on her own, then a few years later giving birth to a still born baby, neither of which John was able to assist despite his personal pain and want; spending winters alone with all the responsibilities of taking care of family, house, and animals; John getting deathly ill in the Netherlands; not to mention the severity of everyday life as a result of the Revolution. The depth of commitment to the vision that John and Abigail exhibited continuously causes me to ponder my own life commitments to God, family and country.
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The personal cost (sacrifice) is something not many people think about in trying to bring about change and see things through to the end. I was totally inspired by reading John Adams. I bought some other books that I will read after the trip: The Real George Washington, The Real Thomas Jefferson, and The Real Benjamin Franklin and the 5,000 Year Leap. I thought the book finally gave some credit where credit was long over due in the John Adams book. I would vote for him today.
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