SimplyLife

When I look at what I have and the opportunities that have been mine my whole life, my thankfulness must extend to the land in which I live. There are many patriotic songs we sing today, but one doesn't get the recognition I think it should. We borrowed it from the British and put our own lyrics to it in 1831. Samuel Francis Smith, a student at Andover Theological Seminary wrote the words, replacing the British version of God Save the Queen . My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty Of thee I sing Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride From every mountainside, let freedom ring. The radical idea that people could enjoy freedoms that the government couldn't take away birthed the United States of America in 1776. It hasn't been easy to stay that way, and in light of how large and powerful our government is today, who knows how long it will last. We've fought against tyranny and each other. We've welcomed people fro...

In this month of planning and enjoying the Thanksgiving feast, it seemed fitting to begin with the Source of all our blessings. I grew up in a church that sang the Doxology week in and week out, along with "Amen" at the end. I took those words for granted, but now age has given me an appreciation for those traditions. It's a song where we can begin to examine thankfulness. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen. A heart of thankfulness is necessary to keep life in balance and ourselves in perspective. It's recognizing that our lives are not an accident of biology. And understanding that we are not self-sufficient no matter how hard we try. It's not about our circumstances, but trusting the Heavenly Father. The One who made us and the world around us is intimately involved in His creation. He is the Source of everything that is goo...