America The Beautiful

July 4th.

A day off of work.
A day to relax.
A day to have fun.
A day to explode things.
A day to spend with friends and family.

A day for celebration.

Like Memorial Day, I think July 4th is often "celebrated" without being honored for what it really is. We have taken this holiday and distorted it to just another summer day to relax and have fun.

July 4, 1776 - the Birth of our Nation.

I know...I am a bit of a History nerd, especially US History. (Good thing since I majored in it in college!!) I know that everyone else doesn't love all the details of history like I do, but I do think it is super important to understand what July 4th means in our nation. It is not a universal holiday. It is a US holiday.

This is the day that our nation marks as its beginning. The day we separated ourselves from Great Britain and became our own nation. It's kind of like when you become an adult and move out on your own. It was a monumental occasion.

I am glad that our founding fathers had the bravery to come to America and make settlement on this land. I am glad that they rebelled against unlawful taxation and abuse. I am glad that they took a stand and chose to fight for their (our) liberty. I am glad that they were able to defeat the British armies. I am glad that they were wise enough to establish their (our) new country on Biblical principles that would last.

Are we still "one nation under God"? I'll let you ponder that thought.

Without getting into politics (I really hate talking about politics, and I hate even worse to hear what someone else thinks about politics - or wants me to think about politics!), I will say that we have moved away from the ideas that our founding fathers had for this nation.  That much is obvious. We have strayed very far from those first thoughts of Independence, and we have strayed even farther from the Bible and its principles.

Do I hate America? Have I given up on her as a nation?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

I love our country! I am proud to be an American - just wait and see once the Olympics start!! I am very thankful that God allowed me to be born in America. I am thankful for the freedoms and liberties that we have. I realize that there are people all over the world that have dreams of coming to America...some even die trying to get here. I am in no way against America.

I say, pray for our nation. Pray for our leaders. Pray for upcoming leaders. Pray for future generations. We are definitely heading away from what the Founding Fathers had in mind, but I don't think we have strayed beyond reach. We just need to look back in the past and learn from it.

So, shout out to G.Washington, T.Jefferson, J.Hancock and the rest of our Founding Fathers. Thanks for making July 4th a day to celebrate!