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“Congresswoman McBath, just like your precious son Jordan — he’s always going to be with you, for real. It becomes a piece of you.” – President Biden
Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath joined President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and a bipartisan group of members of the House and Senate for the annual National Prayer Breakfast.
President Biden delivered remarks and included stories about both his own loss, and McBath’s loss of her son, Jordan. The full recording of the event is available here. The President’s remarks about loss are available to watch here and a partial transcript is below. McBath’s remarks are available here and a transcript is below.
Excerpt of Remarks Delivered by President Joe Biden:
President Biden: Today is my son Beau’s birthday. But the only thing that Beau said to me when he was — we were told he was — he was going to die within minutes or — if an hour — that he looked at me, and he said, “Dad, promise me — promise me, Dad, you’re going to stay involved.” I said, “I’ll be involved. I’ll be — I’ll be good, Beau.” He said, “No, dad, promise me. Give me your word as a Biden that you’re going to stay engaged.”
Because he knew, like a lot of you — what you’ve been through — the first instinct is you just want to curl up in a ball and just leave, no longer do what you’ve done your whole life that you’ve —
He said, “Dad — Dad, promise me.” “I give my word.”
And that — that was the last conversation in Walter Reed Hospital — laying there in the bed. And — and then he looked at me and he said, “And, Dad…” — and his brother Hunter was his closest friend. We were all three on the bed. And he turned to me and he said, “Dad, I want you to know I’m not afraid…
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President Biden: Today, as I said, is a day that a lot of us can remember the times when we lost — each of us. And just like I miss my son every single day, I — there’s — I know he’s always with me, for real. He’s always with me.
Congresswoman McBath, just like your precious son Jordan — he’s always going to be with you, for real. It becomes a piece of you. You know, how many times did you all been through this, about to make a decision and say, “What would Beau want?” Or “What would Jill want?” Or “What would…” — you know, whatever it is. So, it’s — you know.
And for everyone out there who has lost a piece of their soul, they’re always with you. And all through the pain, I think you — if you can find purpose, find purpose. Purpose of a life that makes you worthy in their eyes and what they expect of you.
McBath delivered this closing devotion:
Rep. McBath: Good morning. A reading from the New Testament
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
