Blogger: Mary Keeley
I’ll admit it, I’m an enthusiastic patriot, eternally grateful to our country’s founding fathers, who sought and followed God’s guidance as they established America’s foundation. I’m forever grateful to those heroes who fought and sacrificed their lives for future generations of freedom.
As you peck away on your keyboard daily, how often are you reminded of the freedom you have to write truth into your work? To write the kinds of books you want to write? I confess I take it for granted way too often. But for some reason this year I’m profoundly affected by the fragility of freedom, the need to hold it dear and to pray for God to continue to raise strong leaders in the church and the country. Leaders who seek and follow him.
Today, we’ll do what many citizens do to prepare for a day of fun with family and friends tomorrow:clean the grill, grocery shop for the hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, chips of our choice, make our favorite red, white, and blue gelatin and potato salads. But let us also take time to remind our children and grandchildren that we might not have been blessed to live in a country in which we can make our own choices and worship freely as we still can here. They are growing up in a different America today.
I hope you have a fun and deeply thankful 4th of July celebration tomorrow. Let’s prepare our hearts today to also make it a day of prayer for our nation. Because freedom isn’t something to be taken for granted. We still need to seek God’s blessing on the land of the free and the home of the brave. Maybe a son, daughter, niece, nephew or cousin will grow up to be a writer. God forbid they won’t be free to share truth and write freely.
Best-selling author and speaker Robin Jones Gunn wrote poignant thoughts about our country in her recent newsletter, “Robin’s Nest.” View it here. I found myself humming “God Bless America” as I read it. Perhaps now more than ever we need to pray for God to preserve America’s foundation because:
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 33:12
Does the 4th of July have special memories for you?
Do you have an ancestor who fought or sacrificed his life for America’s freedom?
How do you plan to celebrate this year?
TWEETABLES:
Freedom is fragile. On this 4th of July let’s pray for the preservation of America’s freedoms. Click to Tweet.
Ponder the significance of what the 4th of July holiday means for Americans. Click to Tweet.
Happy 4th of July. Remember to pray for God’s continued blessings on America. Click to Tweet.
Carol McAdams Moore
Mary,
I join you in praying that we will be a people whose God is the Lord.
Have a safe, memory-filled, and fun 4th of July everyone!
Jennifer Major
Most people here know I’m not an American. I’m a Canadian and I love my country very much, and please, all of you, take this in the manner in which I say it: I don’t want to be anything other than Canadian.
We I come home from being far away, especially in South America, I literally force myself to not kiss the ground when I get home. Think I’m kidding? Nooooo, I am NOT! Ask me privately, and I’ll tell you. But you can guess, can’t you?
But listen to this as well, I do have an admiration for your country and I’m glad you are who you are.
I’m glad as neighbours can wave across the lawn and say “You ever need anything, I’m here.”
And I’m glad that when we do get together, we always have a great time.
Unless it’s hockey, then it’s The Maple Leaf Forever. Thankfully, most of your players know Oh, Canada and can sing along.
As for ancestors who fought FOR America’s freedom? Ummm, nope. In fact, the town I live in, ‘New Maryland’, was founded in the late 1700’s by Loyalists who escaped their homes in Maryland.
But hey, at least we had Red Shirt on our side, right Laura Frantz? Don’t worry, she knows I’d say that. 😉
On July 4th, we’ll be here, in our lawn chairs, watching the fireworks from the backyard.
Happy Birthday!
Jennifer Major
*when I come home…
Peter DeHaan
Thanks for your comment, Jennifer. I was wondering how many blog readers lived in a different country. (Although everyone has a fourth of July, it’s treated much different here in the U.S.)
Meghan Carver
My blog post today is about what we need for a whiz-bang Fourth of July. We need devotion to the values and ideals that formed this incredible country of ours. My mother’s older brother served in World War II. At the end of his term of service, after a long journey home, the ship docked in the darkest middle of the night watch. No cheering crowds greeted him. No sweetheart to gather in his embrace. No flag unfurled at his arrival. But the lack of those accolades did not deter, and he did what so many others had done before him. On his knees, he kissed the precious ground of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. That sounds foreign to us, us forty-somethings and younger. But you’re right, Mary. We’re able to write whatever is on our hearts and in our minds and share the gospel because of that service.
We definitely need more prayer for our country, Mary. Thank you for the reminder. Have a wonderful Independence Day!
Gabrielle Meyer
I read Robin Jones Gunn’s post and I had tears streaming down my cheeks. It’s a beautiful tribute to America. I’m a patriot. I remember in high school I dropped our government class because I was disturbed by the teacher’s opinions on America. When one of my male friends found out, and I told him why, he said: “My, aren’t you patriotic.” In a derogatory way. But I stood up for myself. I am patriotic and proud of it. I love America and our history. It’s up to my generation to continue the legacy our forefathers began.
Happy 4th of July, Mary. I hope you have a fun time with your loved ones.
Gabrielle Meyer
I forgot to add that I did have an ancestor in the Revolutionary War. His name was Gideon Burdick and at the age of fourteen he was the personal drummer boy for George Washington in the Battle of Trenton. It’s a neat story, one that doesn’t stop there. 🙂
Jennifer Major
WOW!!!!
Jeanne T
Good for you, Gabrielle. Being patriotic in the face of apathy.
Amber Perry
Hi! Such a wonderful post, thank you. This country is so special and I pray for it daily. I do have several ancestors who fought in the Revolution and their stories are amazing. I love reading (and writing) novels about that important time in history. Thank you again for this post! God bless and have a wonderful holiday.
Lindsay Harrel
Lovely tribute, Mary. I know that I far too often take my freedoms for granted. So this weekend, I’d like to just soak it in: the freedom to be me. To worship the God I worship. To fight for what I believe in. Amen, amen.
Lori
There were numerous ancestors on my maternal grandmother’s side who fought in the Revolutionary War. Also, on her side she had a relative who signed the U.S. Constitution.
Jenny Leo
I’ve been struggling this morning with a writing project for a client. I’m under a tight deadline and the words just aren’t coming. I was feeling rather sorry for myself when I took a break to read your post. I’m truly touched by what you said about being free to write the kinds of books (or articles, or blog posts, or plays, or songs, or…) we want to write, and that circumstances might not always be as kind to us. I’m now returning to my project with renewed energy and a whole new “attitude of gratitude” at this privilege. Thanks!
Cynthia Herron
Mary, I loved your words this morning! Thank you for sharing Robin’s post–it moved me to tears. I, too, can remember those simpler days, when God AND country were held in such high esteem.
I will forever get a lump in my throat when I hear “The Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” or some of the other patriotic songs. (And I still choke up when I see our American flag waving proud and free in the afternoon breeze!)
Once, while at a ballgame, I was shocked and saddened when a young man sitting a seat below me refused to stand during our National Anthem. He did offer a salute with his mug, though, in a misguided show of patriotism.
Happy Fourth of July, dear Mary and friends!
May God Bless America!
Jeanne T
Mary, what a beautiful post. I thought I commented earlier, but I guess I forgot to. Sigh. I have been burdened over some of the decisions being made by our leaders. We’re definitely praying for our nation on this July Fourth. I’m realizing we need to be more purposeful in teaching our kids the importance of praying for our leaders, and our countrymen.
For the Fourth, we are taking the kids to a local ranch where they will share aspects of our nation’s history through recited speeches (i.e. The Gettysburg Address), reenactments from the Revolutionary War and food and games. I think it will be fun for all of us.
My paternal grandfather was a POW in WW1 and I had an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. His two brothers, Tories, went back to England.
Have a blessed Fourth of July, Mary.
Connie Almony
Thank you for this post, Mary! I love this country and am very grateful to have been brought up here.
Andrea Cox
Mary, may you also have a blessed and happy 4th of July celebration!
Elaine Faber
The song that moves me to tears says, “I’m proud to be an American…. Got bless the USA.” Can’t remember all the words but oh how the tears flow when I hear it sung. I, too pray for our misguided leaders and wonder what will become of our nation if we keep turning away from God’s principles. I’m old and grey and likely won’t see the days I fear are coming to our nation,but my heart breaks for children and grandchildren. We must keep praying that ‘something’ will change the path our nation is traveling – something has to bring us back to the principles that made us the great nation God blessed when we served and revered Him in day’s past.
Judith Robl
Amen!
Darby Kern
What an excellent blog. I’m proud to be an American, though I had nothing to do with it. My mother was born in Germany in 1933 but, by God’s grace, married an American man. While I love Germany (and Austria) I always enjoy coming home to the United States. It’s not perfect but it’s still the place that people die trying to get to.
And I love Canada too. More natural beauty and kind hearted people are difficult to find. We have great neighbors.
lisa
So thankful for the freedom to write freely. I see this very clearly in my non-profit work that others do not have the freedom to make a difference with their words. Thanks for your words.
My Grandpa’s brother lost his life at 20 for it in WWII. He told us all the time about him and to remember what we have.
Judith Robl
My patriot ancestors included a father and two sons excluded from Quaker meeting because of their participation on the patriot side of the American Revolution. They are the impetus of my work in progress. I always wanted to be a fly on the wall to hear the conversations between mother and father in that household. Since I couldn’t, I get to make it up.
Linda Jewell
Each year I write a heritage and a legacy letter and give the latest installments to my family for Christmas. This last year, my aunt, who has researched our family history for years, helped me identify 121 family members who served in the United States military. They span our nation’s history–from five who served in the Revolutionary War to my son who is currently serving. Nine of the men served during two wars, and two men served in three armed conflicts.
Those who served included a young Irish lad conscripted into the British Army. He later was either captured or deserted and then fought for the Americans; as a British traitor he could never go home to his heartbroken father. Another branch of the family reports that one of their members served as one of George Washington’s body guards. During the Civil War one branch of the family had both Union and Confederate veterans. Another ancestor deserted in the early 1900’s but later registered for the draft during World War I. Several mothers had four sons away at wars at the same time.
My ancestors served in armed conflicts in places like King’s Mountain and Cowpens, later at Shiloh and Vicksburg, still later in the Philippines, France, and Italy, then Korea, Vietnam and more recently in the Balkans and the Middle East. These events and places are not faint echoes of American history lessons or pins stuck into a world map. Instead, they represent places and conflicts where my family members served and fought. Some received wounds, others were captured. A few died as the result of their service. A few made the military their career. However, when peace was declared, the vast majority came home to take their place as the backbone and heart of America. To the best of their abilities, they left the battles behind them. Looking to the future, they raised families along with livestock or crops, or they became tradesmen or professionals.
Andrew Gilmore
You nailed it with the foundation comment. If the foundation crumbles, the whole house falls.