Esther Burr’s Diary – Her Life and Mine – Writing Essays

Esther Burr’s Diary

Writing essays

When writing essays, one must describe the topic. Here is an outline that works for biographies or historical fiction.

Compare / contrast the main character’s life and yours.

Introduction: Present three areas using a parallel structure to present these areas.

Area # 1: Main Character vs. My life

Area # 2: Main Character vs. My life

Area # 3: Main Character vs. My life

Conclusion: Review three areas using a parallel structure to summarize these areas.

Reading Burr’s diary of Esther made me think about how different her life seems from mine, so I chose the above outline for my essay. Born on February 13, 1732, Esther Edwards grew up in the home of the great theologian and famous preacher of the Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards. Later, she married Aaron Burr. His son, Aaron Burr Jr. became vice president and challenged Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, to a duel. Hamilton died as a result.

Esther Burr’s diary: her life and mine

I didn’t know about Esther Burr before reading her diary. This journal is opened on her ninth birthday when she states that her mother had the pages attached to make a journal. Certainly a girl who kept a diary in 1741 lived a very different life than I did. However, we share in important ways. Exploring these similarities and differences, we will look at her relationship with her parents, her husband, and her Lord.

Immediately, Esther’s references to her parents struck me as very different. She referred to them as Mr. or Mrs. Edwards. Except when I was very young when I was a mom or dad, I have referred to my parents as mom and dad. While some of my classmates have used other names for their parents, I don’t know of any who refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. when talking about or with them. Additionally, Esther would include additional terms of respect such as “my honorable father, Mr. Edwards.” From the diary, I assume that, when speaking to them, Esther called them Father and Mother. My mother also called her parents, father and mother. As I got older, I think my parents expected and received more respect from my siblings and me than anyone else. I grew up in a military family and that possibly contributed to a higher expectation than the general population. Even so, in general, I believe that respect for the elderly has diminished enormously throughout my life and certainly quite since the 18th century.

Later in the journal, I discovered that the path from meeting someone to marriage has changed a lot since Esther Burr’s life. Aaron Burr, a preacher, had visited Edward’s home for an extended period of time and Esther surprised the day that she took her turn to make breakfast for Mr. Burr and no one else came for breakfast. Mr. Burr asked her to marry him. His answer: “If it pleases the Lord.” Later, Mr. Burr sent horses for Esther and her mother. Upon arrival, Aaron and Esther were married. Again, she referred to her husband as Mr. Burr. At the age of 20 she became the wife of a busy pastor. Later they had two children. When she had to preach or teach elsewhere, she missed him and even gave birth to Aaron Burr, Jr. in Mr. Burr’s absence. I also want to show respect for my husband. In our day, women commonly refer to their husbands by their first name, unless they are talking to a child who should address him as “Mr. …”. Although I don’t think we should go back to that formality, as Christian wives, we should show respect for our husbands both towards them and towards them. Also, when speaking to others, we must not speak ill of our husbands. Certainly, although they are not perfect, they are perfect for us. God uses husbands to sanctify one another. Reading Esther’s journal is a great reminder for all of us.

Finally, we will explore Esther’s relationship with her Lord. He grew up in a pastor’s home and experienced the “Great Awakening” of a unique situation. He talked about how God used his parents to deal with those convicted of sin. An example of Esther’s relationship with the Lord: “The air was filled with the music of the sleigh bells of the churchgoers as they passed by. And I thought about what is said in the Scriptures, about the bells when he entered the holy place; and thus the loudest music of the church bells seemed to say to my soul: Holiness to the Lord! “(p. 22) Furthermore, Esther quoted something that her father preached that blessed her:

Ruth’s resolution: ‘Beg me not to leave you, or to stop following you. (Ruth 1,16) I will never forget his words about God’s people. He said: “They are the most excellent and happy society in the world. God, whom they have chosen as their God, is their Father. He has forgiven all their sins and they are at peace with Him. And He has admitted them in all privileges. As they have dedicated themselves to God, so God has given himself to them … “Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” P. 23

Yes, knowing that the holy and sovereign God of the universe is the God of His children grants us countless blessings. I do not have to be the daughter of famous parents or be married to a famous man to know that I am the daughter of this great God.

Meeting Esther Burr through reading her journal has enriched me. Accompanying enormous contrasts in our lives, I rejoice in the similarities. Her relationships with her parents, her husband, and her Lord mirror mine in many ways.

Epilogue:

Within six months of each other, the grandparents and parents of Sally Burr Reeves, 4, and Aaron Burr Jr., 2, died orphaned them. Aaron Burr died at the age of 41. Months later, Jonathan Edwards died as a result of a smallpox vaccine. In 16 days Esther Burr died. Six months after Jonathan’s death, Sarah died of dysentery. These individuals gave everything for Christ.