A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

                 I typed this on the evening of July 4^th, the birthday of our nation. Liz and I did not fight the traffic; carry our folding chairs, bug spray, radio and snacks to witness holiday fireworks in person. For the last couple of years we’ve been content to watch fireworks on our televisions. The last time we attended a fireworks display was with our grand boys. We also did not wait in a crowded restaurant to order the traditional bar-b-que and sweet tea. And I did not make the effort to grill outside. We had a celebrative dinner at home prepared in an air-conditioned kitchen.  These are symptoms of old age. As one grows older he begins to take the easiest path. Now if we had celebrated with family we  probably would have done these things, but none of our immediate family were in Birmingham today.

                Our relaxed observance of the day does not indicate a lesser appreciation of its importance. We feel a sense of pride and thankfulness as we put a US flag out front of our house. We have pride in the fact that the US, in our opinion, is the greatest nation on earth. It has its faults and problems, but it is the land of freedom and possibility. Millions of people around the world see us as the land of opportunity and seek to come here, even illegally.

And we are so thankful to live in this country. We are thankful that the bold experiment of democracy has endured these 238 years. This is a blessing from God. Our society is far from perfect, but we common people today live like the kings of former generations. So I give thanks to the founders of our nation and the generations which have preceded us. And most of all I give thanks to God. We sing, “God bless America” and God has already blessed America. I am confident He will continue to do so. The religious scene is rapidly changing, but the great majority of our citizens still believes in God and worships him. The Psalmist said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)

 

Grace  and peace.