When I was in the 5th grade, I was the Statue of Liberty in our school play. I was dressed in some long silky gown, holding a piece of pipe covered in tin foil. I gave a speech about freedom and democracy and then we all sang “God Bless America” and pledged allegiance to the flag. I realized years later that the reason I got to be the Statue of Liberty was that I was the tallest girl in our class that year.
We were patriotic back then. We pledged allegiance to the flag every morning and bowed our heads as the teacher lead us in prayer.
At the 4th of July celebration every year, we began with the “Star Spangled Banner” and the flag salute, plus a prayer for safety for the American Legion men who were putting on the fireworks display.
At the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo parade each year, we stood at attention with our hands over our hearts when the horse and rider presented the U.S. flag. At the grand entry the first night of the rodeo, when the horse and rider raced around the arena with the U.S. flag waving high, we leaped to attention, again with our hands over our hearts. My heart swelled with pride until I thought it would leap out of my chest.
I guess patriotism isn’t as popular as it once was, but I noticed something lately. The Baby Boomers who were around during the 60s and 70s, criticizing the government, are now the most patriotic of all. We all remember our school days. We remember the songs our music teacher taught us to sing in 5th grade. We remember the flag salute and standing at attention when the flag was presented. We remember the 4th of July as a celebration of freedom, not just a 3-day weekend to play around at the lake with fireworks to watch.
Now it is our turn to show the younger ones that patriotism doesn’t go out of style.
Tears in a Bottle
Have you been crying your eyes out lately over some unresolved problem in your life? Does it seem like no one really cares about you, that God doesn’t hear you when you pray? Have you cried enough tears to fill the ocean or at least your iced tea glass?
Well, I have good news for you. Those tears may not be wasted after all. I found a scripture that speaks of this very situation.
In Psalms 56 David cried out to God, in his trouble, and put his trust and confidence in God. “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me.”
God is saving your tears in a bottle, recording them in His book. They are not wasted. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Psalms 126:5.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5.
Rev 21:4 says “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Lift up your head, brush away your tears, and put your hope in the Lord. He is keeping track of all those tears you have cried and He will take care of this situation for you. God is for you. God is on your side. He is not against you.
He’s never failed me yet.