Our Precious Gift

We have this picture hanging on the wall in our living room. It's called "The Prayer at Valley Forge" by Arnold Friberg. I bought it for my husband for fathers day when we were newly married, about 11 years ago. My husband loved the picture and wanted a copy since he first saw it on the wall in someones office on campus. I thought, it was a nice picture, so I saved the money and bought it. It was a lot of money to spend at that time: we were newly married with a baby boy and my husband was going to school full time while working full time. I found an inexpensive frame that didn't do the picture justice, but kept the dust off until we could afford to have it framed professionally. This picture has hung in the living room in each of the past 7 homes we've lived in. While in house #6, we finally coughed up the cash for a professional framing job and I'm so glad we did. My children always ask about the man kneeling by the horse which leads to a conversation about the wisdom of this founding father of our nation.

To be honest, when I was in high school, I thought my American government class might possibly be the most boring class on the planet. I didn't get it. I totally took for granted the liberties I had been blessed with through the Constitution of the United States. It wasn't until recently that my eyes have been opened to the fragile state of our nation. Our freedom hangs in the balance. Our liberty is being challenged. Our government is becoming too large and our leaders too callous. "We the people" are losing our voice. Those in power who have taken an oath to serve our nation seem to be only self-serving. I know there are a few righteous leaders that are fulfilling their duty of serving the people, but they are fighting a difficult battle against a tide of corruption & immorality. It's time for us to figure our who we really are as Americans and stand for what we believe is true. We need to look past the propaganda and the lies. I am proud to be an American! I don't mean that in a cocky-better-than-thou-way or in a cheesy-bumper-sticker way. I mean that I am part of a country that stands for the greatest principles in the world, we stand united as a country, as one nation under God. With that privilege, comes a responsibility to defend our Constitution and teach it to our children.

It's not about Right vs. Left, North vs. South, Up vs. Down, or Democrat vs. Republican, BUT it is about Right vs. Wrong. We all love our America, but love shouldn't hurt and love shouldn't have a price tag of $250,000 per person, and growing.

When discussing liberty and freedom, it is important to also remember those who have fought and sometimes died to preserve this blessed nation. Please watch this video, click on the link below. As you watch, ask yourself, what do you stand for now, how far would you go, and what price would you pay to protect the liberties of this nation? More importantly, how can we thank those who have fought the fight? Keep the spirit of America and freedom alive. Remember the constitution and fight to preserve it by learning its contents, teaching others, and really looking at; who our nation is, where it came from, and how it can and will stand mightily in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cghAiWH_AUM