I am proud to be an American
This morning we went to church, like we do every Sunday morning, my husband myself and our grandchildren. The church was decorated festively with red, white, and blue banners, streamers, and buntings. When the congregation stood up to sing, the song choices were patriotic tunes. Anyone who knows my husband knows he does not sing especially in public. Today in church he sang the patriotic songs with me, and our grandchildren, and the rest of the congregation. I suppose it is a sign of growing older when little things like this makes you get all choked up with the emotions. I am not sure who I was more proud of, my husband or my grandchildren for singing in support of our country. There is an expression people use saying, my chest swelled with pride, and I finally realize what that means. Standing there in church singing the Star-Spangled Banner, America, and My Country ‘Tis of Thee, and hearing the sweet innocent voices of my grandchildren, mingled with the sage voice of their grandfather had me all choked up.
One of the reasons the songs seemed so poignant this morning is because I’ve come to realize that our freedom is a fragile thing. There are entities around us that would like to end this freedom and become the puppet master, having us dance to their tune. I think the singing of these songs this year has a new connotation to them, as the silent majority have finally awakened and are standing shoulder to shoulder in support of the country they love.
This country was built by people who came here in peril of their lives, to build a new country where they could obtain freedom of religion. Later in 1776 a Declaration of Independence was drafted by a committee of five in order to regain the freedom the original colonists hope to find here. We now find ourselves in the same struggle trying to regain and maintain our religious freedoms in this country, without being called prejudiced, bias, racist, and offenders of people who have nothing to do with the foundation or the formation of this country and its freedoms. God has blessed this country because the founding fathers believed in a divine God. They sought his counsel through prayer when they met to make decisions about the future of this country, and the Congress still did that up to recent times, until someone decided it was not politically correct to do so. A good portion of our representatives don’t even stand for the Pledge of Allegiance or the national anthem. At the same time our rights are being taken away and given to people who are not citizens. This country is on a parapet, and could go in either direction, one way leads to it’s destruction, the other way leads to it’s stability. I truly believe if we turn our backs on God he will turn his back on this country, which he has blessed so fervently since its foundation. So standing there this morning and singing with my grandchildren my husband and the rest of my church family, did give me a sense of unity, loyalty, and pride in these United States.
In order to find our way back to a sure footing, the Bible gives a simple path we must take: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. The question is, are we too proud to humble ourselves in the presence of God and ask for his help?
As parents it is important that we help our children understand how this country was formed, and the sacrifices that were made along the way. It seems as if they are trying to take our identity away by erasing our history. Make sure it does not happen in your household with your children and grandchildren, because they are the future.
We as writers are only now coming to the place where we are comfortable in making our veterans heroes in our works. I for one am very glad this has been corrected and our veterans are given the respect and recognition they deserve. Let’s all do our part in making sure they are kept in the forefront of people’s appreciation.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalms 34:3,117:1
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Psalms 67:3-4
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
I Timothy 4:12