Day 064: Flag Day – To Stand or to Kneel

In 1775, America was not yet one nation under God. She was a plethora of loosely connected colonies that would slowly and painfully organize to form states. When our forefathers fought the British, they united more because of a common enemy and their desire to be free than for a great love for one another or burning desire to be united. In fact, in many cases quite the opposite was true. This was especially apparent as different regions of the newly developing country marched into battle under their own flags rather than under one easily recognized unifying emblem. Thankfully, General George Washington realized the importance of uniting Americans under one glorious flag. On June 14th, 1775, the earliest version of Old Glory was adopted as the official American flag. June 14th is now celebrated as Flag Day.

Our flag, like many of our treasured institutions and beliefs, is now under attack and our unity is threatened. Many of those blessed with US citizenship, approach the American flag with disdain. By choosing to disrespect the flag by desecrating it or by kneeling rather than stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, they fail to honor the sacrifices of those who fought for them. They fail to recognize the value of the red in the flag which stands for the precious and irreplaceable blood of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our lives, liberties, and opportunities.

This disrespect has been taken further in recent months with many asking if Americans still have one flag. The reasons for these questions became obvious just a few days ago, when the Biden administration replaced the center of three American flags hanging in front of the White House with the multicolored flag. This multicolored flag is the one many mistake as a rainbow flag. Although it has colors of a rainbow, it looks nothing like the beautiful gift God gave His children. The flag Biden’s cohort placed in a position of honor is the very flag ripping apart the values America was founded on and that God gifted us with. It seems even the White House honors a flag given to us by neither God nor our Founding Fathers.

I make no apologies for loving the American flag. I love its red, white, and blue. I love its 50 pointy state stars on their brilliant blue background. I love the parallel red and white stripes for each of our original states. I love watching the flag unfurl as it’s raised high on a pole. I love driving by a home with a flag waving from a front porch. I love the salute of home town hero signs featuring local veterans in front of the flag they fought for displayed telephone poles.

There is much to love about our flag. There is much to love about America. There is much to love about our faith and our churches. There is much to love about Marriage and pregnancy, childbirth and family. There is much to love about life. There is much to love about hardship and struggle, perseverance and seeing things through. There is much to love about the rainbow God gave us.

There is much to love about everything. There is also much to be bitter about. Choosing love or bitterness is a matter of personal decision making. Choosing love does not mean burying your head in the sand and not seeing truth. It means working to make the imperfect perfect in a humble and grateful way. This is the way to Live, Not Ordinary.

Pity those who choose to kneel and desecrate and disrespect. They, often unwittingly, choose to value the bad over the good. Gently and patiently and humbly educate them if you can. If you cannot, shake the dust from your sandals and move on lest you get sucked into the mire too.

Prepare for the worst, but always choose Love for God is Love, and in the end, evil is right about one thing – Love Wins.

God Bless…

Gratitude Journal – June 14, 2023

Thank You Lord for…

1. Flag Day🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
2. The flag retirement ceremony at school.
3. Betsy Ross for making our first American glad!
4. Those who defend our flag.
5. The colors of our flag – red for the blood of those who protect and defend her, White for the Peace we long for, Blue for our sea to shining sea.
6. Father M for texting me to remind me about Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday.
7. President Trump and those fighting for him and justice.
8. An easy day at work.
9. Finding the “missing” calculators.
10. Getting our earlier than usual.
11. Seeing R and C when I got home.
12. Narcan training and talking with the instructor after.
13. Catching up with the parent.
14. A parent’s email helping me see things from a different perspective.
15. Imperfect people who try their best.
16. R taking C to and from practice.
17. R’s incredible cookies! Soooooo good!!!