You might not want to hear this

As I sit here inside my big picture window, I can see the American flag flapping majestically in the wind across the street in my neighbors' yard. And I feel a surge of pride and emotion right now. There's no one singing the National Anthem, or God Bless America, but so what? That's my flag. The flag that belongs to the greatest nation on earth; by God's grace.

Men (and women) have fought relentlessly to defend her and that which she represents: freedom and liberty. The freedom which allows some of my fellow citizens to burn that very symbol of freedom and hope. The freedom to vote. The freedom to speak out against things with which we disagree. And yes, the freedom to take a tax payer funded trip around the world and declare that America isn't the super power she once was. I warned you that you might not want to hear this.

I disagree with my president on that one. This is America. We love our baseball and apple pie, but we love those things because we love something greater. We love our country and her people, and we have overflowing compassion for other countries that are in need. Our status as a super power is used far and wide to be that shining city on a hill. Our men and women in uniform, past and present, have given the greatest sacrifice they could to ensure that. My grandfather was a witness to what happened on D-Day. He never had much to say about it. He didn't care to relive it, but it doesn't do anything to dampen my gratitude and sense of pride. What he did there continued the swell of what we get to do here. Are we sinful and depraved? Yes. We murder the unborn. God, forgive us. Are we self serving? God, forgive us. But we have the freedom to worship as we see fit. We are truly a blessed people, and may God see fit to continue to display His mercy to us.

Thank you, our veterans, for what you do for us. The American spirit is strong, and will not be snuffed out. I love this country, and I thank God that I can call it home.