By Hanna Griffing on Thursday, 07 April 2016
Category: Homeschooling Parents

10 Fun Facts About Thomas Jefferson

At a conference last year I heard Eric Metaxas, author of the bestselling books Amazing Grace and 7 Men, speak about the fact that our country needs to remember and venerate its heroes. Heroes give young people someone to look up to and emulate. They teach students that they can have a positive impact on the world around them when they use their God-given talents. Finally, they teach us all that greatness in the pure unselfish sense is something worth striving for. This does not mean we should focus only on their greatest accomplishments. Instead, we should accepted that the whole life of a hero or heroine is part of their legacy.

 

One of our greatest national heroes is indisputably Thomas Jefferson, who will have his 273 birthday on April 13th. Jefferson’s face is familiar to most americans. After all, it was famously carved into Mt. Rushmore, and is, perhaps less famously, printed on the 2 dollar bill. Jefferson accomplished much in his life, both in his career as third President of the United States and beyond. Perhaps the most interesting fact about Jefferson is that he apparently did not consider his presidency as his greatest achievement.

So who was the man behind the monument? Some of these fun facts about Thomas Jefferson may surprise you. Hopefully all of them will give you a clearer image of the varying interests and many sides of this great national hero.

In the end, what matters is the value God gives us and the value we find in ourselves. The epithet Thomas Jefferson chose for his tombstone reads:

 

“Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom and Father of the University of Virginia.”

 

Notably absent is any memory of his presidency. It is clear that Thomas Jefferson used his wide range of talents to live a fulfilling life in service to others, and that those accomplishments he valued the most were not necessarily those valued by society.

 

In today’s world, students who have unusual talents and interests often feel out of place and alone. Learning fun facts about Thomas Jefferson shows them that this national hero was a man of many interests and personality traits. Students need to know that their passions, no matter how odd, have value and can lead to greatness.

 


 

 

At Enlightium Academy, we place a high priority in helping students to recognize their unique God-given talents. Click on the shield below to learn more about our approach to online Christian homeschooling.


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