American Pride

Don't you love meeting foreign exchange students? They have such great stories to share and are always willing to make new friends. It would take so much courage to leave your family for a year, your friends, your school; it would take so much courage to make a "home" in a different country with a different culture.

Props to you guys!

I saw a recent facebook post from a foreign exchange student. She talked about how coming to America has always been her dream. She said it was still her dream to live here.

Hold up . . . How many of us take for granted living in the United States? I know I do! (Of course, that comes from the girl who wants to live in France someday. But that's another story.) We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom of worship (I don't like the word religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press. We are so blessed to have FREEDOM!

This foreign exchange student that I was talking about, she wrote that she loves the "sweet taste of freedom."

I was at a volleyball game last night and they started the game with the National Anthem. We all stood, which was fabulous, except the guy in front of me stood and continued to eat his hot dog and lick his fingers free of mustard. How disrespectful. Millions of men have fought and died for our freedom and he can't even take a minute to stop what he is doing, put down his food, and place his hand over his heart. Umm, hello? I think we're missing something here!

This foreign exchange student that I was talking about, she knows all the words to The Star-Spangled Banner and she sings them with pride and with her hand over her heart.

I attended a Christian school from the start up until freshman year. We always started the day with the pledge of allegiance to the United States Flag, the Christian Flag, and the Bible. I miss that. Every school should start the day with the pledge of allegiance. Just because it states "one nation, under God" doesn't mean we can't recite it in a public school. Honestly!

This would probably be a good time to tell you this blog post is directed at me personally, just as much as it is you. We all need to take a stand and "re-invent" pride in our country.

1 Peter 2:13-17 says, “Makes Jesus your Lord proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of fools. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”