Happy July 4th -- Independence Day!

As I made my way back home from Austin to Frisco yesterday, I couldn't help noticing the patriotism along the roadways. Flags waving and fireworks' stands crowded with buyers for their "4th" celebrations.

When I drove into my community, the roadways were lined with flags, and as I turned toward my house, my next door neighbor's yard made it very clear that their patriotism is running high. Before I unloaded my car, I quickly put out my three flags so that I'm counted among those who love our country and have heartfelt gratitude for those who served so selflessly to give us so many freedoms.

Today is the day we celebrate “life – liberty – the pursuit of happiness” and in so doing, we get to FREELY gather together with friends and family for a barbeque, shoot off some fireworks and even, if you’re close to a fireworks show, you’ll probably even catch some spectacular sights and sounds.

There’s a special kind of nostalgia about the 4th of July for me. As a child raised in Dallas, our annual 4th of July tradition was to go to the Cotton Bowl at the State Fair Grounds and we’d watch an unparalleled display of the spectacular fireworks show EVER. After that, we’d head just far enough into the country to shoot off a few bottle rockets and sparklers to continue celebrating this special day.

Honestly, back in those days, I don’t remember giving too much thought to what the meaning of July 4th was. But the older we get and the more honed in we are about the tumultuous times that others in foreign countries are living in, the more gratitude we have to live here. Knowing that our brave and courageous men and women who serve us in those countries and defend us here, the more precious this day becomes. This day, July 4th, is the birthday of our nation. And, with President Ronald Reagan, I say, “It’s the birthday of the greatest nation on earth.”

I read that John Adams, himself a signer of the Declaration, thought that Americans should celebrate a “great anniversary festival” to commemorate our nation’s freedom on July 4th. In a letter to his wife Abigail he wrote, “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.”

So, really, what does this day mean to you and me? Shouldn’t it still be about being “one nation under God”, about giving thanks to God Almighty for this day of deliverance? Surely this day is for all of us to really cherish that original dream, the one for which so many have died and so many continue to serve us with honor, courage and dedication.

With Lee Greenwood, I’m singing: I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men (and women) who died, who gave that right to me. And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.

One Nation UNDER GOD!

Day 232 of Photo Inspirations -- One Nation UNDER GOD
Aw!  The 50s...Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, I Love Lucy, Ozzie & Harriet, Leave It To Beaver, Father Knows Best, Poodle Skirts, Hula Hoops!!!

What a great, Be-Bop-A-Lula time we had Saturday night -- celebrating the Sock Hop days of the 50s at my community, Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills.  I did my best  "Olivia Newton John" impersonation from Grease.  As one of the hosts of the event, it was such a treat to research some of the 50s memories, like those I mentioned above, in black and white TV, "Name That Tune" show (we played it at our party), hula hooping (I won that one! LOL!), bubble gum blowing contest, etc.  I am a Baby Boomer, one of the record number of babies (3.4 million) born in the U.S. (must have been a lot of cold nights -- LOL!).  

Goodness -- have times ever changed the way of doing things since then.  Compared to today, it's a wonder we survived those days, and are even here to tell the story!  My fellow 50s generation will recall that, as toddlers, no car seats, instead, we stood by our parents and what stopped us from being thrown into the windshield when they stopped the car quickly, was their automatic arm.  We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles.  When we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or even shoes.  We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.  We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!   We didn't have video games, no 99+ channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no computers, no Internet, BUT.......WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!  

Lots of blast-from-the-past memories, but I wouldn't trade those days for these days for anything -- particularly when it comes to child safety in cars and otherwise, and brilliant technology that makes life so much easier. There's just no sense living in the past and thinking about the way things were. There's just too much to celebrate about the way things ARE, and that God intended us to be here and be fully engaged AT THIS TIME.

But there's also paramount things that should NEVER be changed.  One of the most critically important decisions that was made in 1954 was the addition of "One Nation Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.  And in 1957, our currency was printed with "In God We Trust" words on it.

Yesterday, my FB post was about those words: "In God We Trust".   Yes, there are those who want to stamp out God from our schools and public places. But, here's the deal -- emperors have tried to destroy those words, philosophies have tried to stamp them out, tyrants have tried to wash them from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it, yet, it still stands. "In God We Trust" is still our non-negotiable.  It is indelibly printed in our hearts, our spirits and our minds.  Now, let's pray that our nation NEVER concedes to letting it go.  

"Blessed is the Nation is "whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12



Psalm 100:5;  'For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness TO ALL GENERATIONS."