Our Country

This week I want to really take a moment to reflect on how grateful I am for this country. The freedoms and liberties are some of the things I hold most dear in this world. So many men and women have fought, bled, and died for this great nation. Many of my ancestors were among them. In more recent history some who have signed up have been friends of mine, and family members. Just this week my brother joined those honored ranks. He follows in the footsteps of my dad before him. 

I'm so grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families have made to protect our freedoms. And today I want to take a moment to focus on some the freedoms that I'm most thankful for.

-Freedom of Speech: It is a rare and amazing privilege to live in a nation where we have freedom of speech. Yes, people abuse this all the time. However that's their right. And whereas in other nations telling someone about Jesus could be considered hate speech, here in America, even if others disagree, we still have the right to say it. That's a truly incredible gift and one I'm so thankful for. Without that gift I wouldn't be able to write about whatever I want; because of it, the things I write on my blog or in my books is protected by my constitutional right.

-The right to protect ourselves: The right to keep and bear arms is just as rare if not more so then the freedom of speech. This allows us to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our properties. Those things cannot just be taken away from us. They are ours and we have to right to defend them. Think about it. Without this right someone with power could come and take your children, or your house, and you wouldn't have any legal right to stop them. That's why this right is so significant and why we must fight to keep it.

-The right to worship: I'm sure that there's times we wish everyone worshiped the way we did but the right to worship or not worship, as we choose is one of the most amazing things about this country. It's the same choice that God has given us since the beginning. Obey Him or not. Our country gives us protection to make that choice. We can worship the Lord or not but the  government won't interfere with our decision. That's pretty incredible.

-To protest: This one's harder. I find that I disagree with a lot of the reasons people protest these days but I'm grateful they have the right to. Think for a moment what would happen if you decided to stage a protest in a communist country. Or one run by a dictator. 

. . .

Got that image in your head? Yeah. Now imagine what it's like when people protest here. They are given the right to meet and protest peacefully and our government protects that right. That's an incredible, sometimes unheard of, idea. Let's not take it for granted.

-The right to vote: The right to free and fair elections is one of the most crucial things in one allows our nation to be what it is today. This is not a political statement or a pitch for one side or the other. It is a reminder that this right, and all of these rights, bear with them an incredible responsibility. Please, do not take them lightly.

So that's it. This week I'm thankful for our nation, and I'm incredibly thankful for those who choose every day to defend it. I'm also honored that my brother has now become one of those serving but it's not without sacrifice. When my 7 year old niece learned he was leaving she started crying and asked him why he had to go. He told her that he was joining the Navy to protect the people of this great nation. She was just sad she won't get to see him for a long time and I understand, I'm sad about that too; but I'm so proud of the fact that she'll know her uncle was out there making sure she could grow up safe and free in this great nation.

Thank you to all who have served or are serving and thank you to the families who pay so many sacrifices and don't get the recognition you deserve.