The Senate has lost one of its legends.  Robert C. Byrd died around 3 a.m. Monday morning after being admitted to the hospital last week.

Byrd was an orphan child who married a coal miner’s daughter and rose from the hollows of West Virginia coal country to become the longest serving senator in U.S. history. Byrd literally wrote the book on the U.S. Senate, a four-volume history of the upper chamber.  His younger colleagues almost always deferred to him when it came to Senate procedures.

West Virginia’s Democratic governor Manchin will now appoint a successor to serve out the remainder of Byrd’s term.

Our prayers go up for Robert Byrd’s family and friends, and for the Senate and the State of West Virginia. We also pray for Governor Manchin as he chooses Byrd’s replacement.

“God we thank you for the men and women who give their lives in the service of our country. We thank you for Robert Byrd. May he rest in peace and may his family and friends, and the State of West Virginia know  the comfort that only you can provide in times of loss. Give the Senate of the United States another great statesmen who will rise to champion the right of individuals and the right role of government in and under our great Constitution. Give Governor Manchin insight and courage to make the right choice in Byrd’s temporary replacement. In Jesus we pray…”