We are on this earth for a season, and leave our mark for good or ill. Who were the writers and journal keepers, the wise people who came before us? What words guided their children, and communities . . . Words which are lost to us, yet continue to bless our lives, our homes, and our nation. In the background of our lives, are those unknown wisdom keepers, whose impact travels through the generations.

Abigail Adams was one such person. She was the wife of our 2nd President, John Adams and mother of our 6th President, John Quincy Adams. Her words and wisdom were captured in letters she wrote to her friends and family.

The year 1776 was a time of change. Abigail saw the birth of the nation, advising her husband, John during its formation. Far ahead of her time, she urged John to include voting rights for women, in the Constitution. Born into a family that owned slaves, she came to hate the institution of slavery. Unable to attend school as a child, she learned to read from her mother. The young Abigail devoured books in the family library to educate herself.

One can understand why, Abigail was an outspoken advocate for education, especially the education of girls and women. Writing to her husband on August 14, 1776, she wrote, “If you complain of neglect of Education in sons, what shall I say with regard to daughters, who every day experience the want of it? With regard to the Education of my own children, I find myself soon out of my depth, destitute and deficient in every part of Education.”

“I most sincerely wish that some more liberal plan might be laid and executed for the Benefit of the rising Generation, and that our new Constitution may be distinguished for encouraging Learning and Virtue . . . If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen and Philosophers, we should have learned women . . . If much depends as is allowed upon the early education of youth and the first principles which are instilled take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women.”

Long years would pass before Abigail’s vision for the country would become reality. Yet, her vision for what the country could be, was cast in her writings, and carried into the country’s future.

May our words be echos of passed on wisdom, to continue to shape and form our nation for good.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Proverbs 3:13-18