Thankful for the Homeland

A few days before the 250th celebration of America's Independence Day, I joined in with friends in the singing of patriotic songs.  My heart filled with gratitude as we sang America the Beautiful, My Country Tis of Thee,  The Star-Spangled Banner, and others. 

As we sang This Land is Your Land, my mind flashed back to the days when my third grade students and I sang those lyrics. At that time, in the late 60s and early 70s, I had never seen -- and neither had they -- the places mentioned in the song. But since then, I have been blessed to see many of them, including the Redwood Forest, the Gulf Stream waters, the golden valleys (in California and in Yellowstone National Park), and ribbons of highway visible for miles in places like Montana.

Since singing those songs and re-living memories, I've often had thoughts like these: Thank You, God, for choosing America as a homeland for me. It is, indeed, a wonderful one. Not a perfect one, but definitely a wonderful land filled with breathtaking beauty and unparalleled freedom.

Happy Birthday, America!

Blessed is the nation 

whose God 

is the LORD; 

and the people 

whom he hath chosen 

for his own inheritance.

Psalm 33:12, KJV

I Love That Flag!

While riding in a car with my husband, I often say, “Oh! Oh! Oh! Slow down if you can. I love that flag!”

As he checks the rearview mirror to make sure we won’t get hit if he slows down or pulls over, he says, “How many flag pictures do you need?”

“I never get tired of taking photos of flags. They are so beautiful, especially when they are being unfurled by a gentle breeze.”

Indeed, I have no idea how many flag photos "live" on my various hard drives. Flags lining the streets of small towns in America. Flags proudly displayed on front porches. Flags in vast grazing lands in the foothills of snow-capped mountains. Flags draped across coffins of American soldiers. Small flags flanking tombstones. Oversize flags looming large against a beautiful sky filled with cotton-candy-like clouds. Flags flapping wildly in strong winds generated by an approaching storm. Flags carried by people in a parade....

Perhaps I love the flag because of all it represents. I love it because it reminds me how blessed I am to claim America as my “home.” 

Please, God!

The Sunday prior to July 4^th, our congregation sang the poem-turned-song, America the Beautiful. I noticed that the writer (Katharine Lee Bates) had included in it several prayers for America that are just as fitting today as when she wrote them in 1893. For example:

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee.

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine.

Will you join me in asking God to do these things for America and to enable her to once again become a nation filled with people who love the Lord God and seek to honor and please Him in all we do and in all we say? Only with His help will America be beautiful in every way—from sea to shining sea.