John and I had some fun playtime out in the yard while Seth finished up some assignments to prepare for MBA school. Our neighbors left out some chalk, which John began trying to eat, so I thought it would be good to teach him that those are actually for drawing on the sidewalk. So we got our creative juices flowing and drew a flag.
The Star-Spangled Banner By Francis Scott Key 1814 |
| Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Last Sunday, at church my friend Cicely gave a beautiful talk about our country, she recounted the tale of how the Star-Spangled Banner was written. And she brought to our attention that there isn't only one verse. Intrinsically, I knew that but I think I had forgotten. Then she had our other friend, Anne Evans, sang the first verse of the Star-Spangled Banner. She sing it a cappella, and everyone in the congregation stood and listened with their hands over their hearts in reverent silence. It was truly a beautiful moment. Then at the end of the meeting, we sang the last verses of the song while we stood. I was truly struck by the fourth verse, I think that if we as a nation paid more attention to what our national anthem taught us, we would all be a lot better shape. The fourth verse of the anthem teaches us that we need to put our trust in God, he was the creator of the earth, and he made it possible for our nation to be created. He inspired men to create it so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we do. He is our maker and he is the highest power that we can look too. Instead of taking God out of the United States, I pray that we will all look to him for the source of our strength, for he is the one that gives us all of our freedoms. I am thankful to be part of this country, and I am proud to be an American. I am grateful for all those who have made it possible for me to be here at this time enjoying the freedoms that I do. |
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