Proud to be an American

Our nation's forefathers came to this land for freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. They wrote our Constitution with Christian principles. Today our leaders question our constitutional rights. Some even say the African constitution makes more sense. Maybe they should live in Africa. Men and women fought for the freedom people have to speak against our constitution and our country. Ironic, isn't it?

The American flag reminds me of our freedom that's not free. I love to see crisp, clean flags with the sharp colors of red, white and blue. When I grew up, flags were taken down in the evening and re-hung the next morning, both with a special procedure. Today the flag flies all the time. It gets dirty and torn from smog, wind and storms. People have complained about their appearance to which a Viet Nam Veteran once responded, "I fought for freedom in the heat and storms, in darkness and mud, and I'll fly my flag through the same." A soiled flag has a different meaning to me because of what he said.

I'm proud to be an American where I can worship my God, buy the insurance of my choice and eat at McDonald's if I want to. If you share my feelings, please join me in praying for our country.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

Father God, we thank you for our freedom and for the men who fought for it. Thank you, too, for the freedom from sin you gave us when your Son died on the cross. We pray for our country, its leadership and people--as we humble ourselves before you, that you would heal our land. Then help us to remember how precious our freedom is and to keep fighting for it. Amen.