George Washington was a great man of example. The legacy he left behind has yet to be matched. From his fear of God and self-control to his experiences as leader of an unlikely army and first president of the United States, He has emerged a great example to quote, admire and to learn from. No wonder why some have named him “The Father of His Country.”

He was not always considered worthy of such a title. Biographies of his life show us that he was just a man like us. He still made mistakes and had errors. Despite this, he had the ability to learn, adapt and succeed. Leading the Continental Army, Washington was not the most experience general the Continental Congress had to choose from. Washington even admitted that in his opinion, he was not qualified to be the Commander and Chief of the Army. Nevertheless, he learned how to be a general by choosing more experienced generals to advise him. He retired thinking that he was done with public service for his lifetime. He retired an American hero. He retired defeating the World Power in their best game. His hair had even grown grey in the process and he was not in the same intimidating physical shape as he was when the war started, but he was not done. He was elected president unanimously. He was the first ever president this nation has had. He, just as in his unanimous Commander and Chief election, admitted that he was not qualified to be America’s first president. But he learned, adapted and succeeded. He knew that precedents were going to be set in his administration. One major precedent he set was the President’s Cabinet. He took what he learned from his military experience and applied it to the presidency. Washington had no formal education. He was looked up to by men with the highest education possible that day could offer but he had no formal education. He knew this was a weakness, so he made a Cabinet. People who were educated and/or experienced in fields he was not experienced in were put under him to advise him so that he could do his job. In the French and Indian War, he was fighting for Britain as a colonel. He had as many as two horses shot from under him and four bullets piercing his coat, not even injuring him. In this example, God wanted him alive. You can see God working in Washington’s life through extraordinary circumstances to accomplish many things here on earth. Washington is a prime example of how “just a man” can do anything when his focus is God.

Works Cited
Ellis, Joseph J. His Excellency. New York: Random House Inc., 2004.