This morning I was watering some of our plants out in front of our house. As I was standing there, hose in hand, watering away, when it sort of dawned on me there was a sound over my head. There was this slight fluttering noise. As I was looking down at the plants, the sun was causing a shadow down on the ground before me. The shadow was in a rhythmic waving that went with the fluttering sound. As I looked up, there she was. And there she was, my American Stars and Stripes, fluttering in the gentle breeze upon my small flag pole.
Its not that I didn't know she was there. I have her there every day. I see her every day. She waves every day. But at that moment, hearing the fluttering sound she made, seeing her rhythmic shadow, and then seeing her bright colors, was just one of those moments that struck me. It moved me, with pride and love of country.
I love America. I have always loved my country. With all her glory, and in spite of all our misgivings at times, I still love all she truly stands for. She doesn't stand for any President. Nor does she stand for all our country has ever done (by way of wayward leaders or citizens). But she, our American Flag, has stood as a shining example of Liberty and Freedom to the world.
Today, in MY view, she is being tested. Tested, not so much from forces abroad, but tested by forces within her own boundaries. There are actually those who think she has outlived her purpose, her design. Outlived the promise of Freedom and Liberty, in light of growing government controlled Freedoms and limited Liberties. Almost unimaginable, some even think she represents some kind of oppression, or outdated ideals of our Founders too long ago to matter in today's world. I worry each day about how long some will let Her last.
But this morning, I was so struck by the sound of her fluttering and the sight of those stars and stripes, that anyone passing may have wondered what I was smiling so big about. I was smiling, because I was standing under her greatness. And for that, I am Blessed. I am Blessed to be an American, and to have our wonder Stars and Stripes to live under.
God Bless America, land of the Free, and home of the Brave.
