"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
Today, in a room at our school filled with 150+ children reciting these words together, I felt my emotions unexpectedly and instantaneously rise to the surface. This reaction shocked me a bit. After all, I have said the pledge over a thousand times in my life, and usually haven't reacted this way. As I made sure the lump in my throat didn't materialize to tears, I questioned why I was emotional. Was it because I was hearing the enthusiastic voices of children, reciting these words in a unified chorus? Did the rise in emotion stem from my feelings that our country is more divided than ever - and certainly not "indivisible" at this point in time? Was it the words, "one nation, under God" that got to me? Are we a nation under God? It doesn't feel like it to me. Did emotions surface because I felt proud to be an American at that moment and felt blessed to live in this land? Was it because I was actually contemplating the words I was saying as I said them? In all the many times that I've repeated the pledge of allegiance in years gone by, I have thoughtfully pondered the words that were coming out of my mouth probably only a handful of times. I think that as I reflected on these words this morning, words which I believe to be sacred, all of the above questions played some part in stirring the feelings from within.
I feel so blessed to be an American, to live in this great land of promise. I am thankful for our founding fathers and for their sacrifice and faith that was necessary to build what we enjoy today. I am thankful for and admire American citizens, like my cousins Melanie and Jenny, who stand up for their beliefs and fight to maintain the morals and values that America was built on, even when it is not popular to do so. As I read my cousin Melanie's blog post today, I found myself looking up quotes from leaders of our country's past. Here are 2 of my favorites -
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams
"Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally impossible for us to figure ourselves what that life would be if these standards were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals, all the standards towards which we, with more or less resolution, strive to raise ourselves." - Theodore Roosevelt
I, for one, will uphold the standards these men of the past speak of, and I will pass this way of living on to my children. I can live in a world of the "if it makes you happy, do it because that's all that matters" and "anything goes" mentalities, but not partake of such philosophies, myself. I can fill my brain with goodness as I read the scriptures and words from a living prophet. It is not easy, and I believe, will get harder, but it can be done! And I can say the pledge of allegiance, with conviction and honor and thankfulness, making sure that my family helps keep America, at least in some small way, one nation, under God.
9 comments:
Amen. I have been close to tears a number of times this week as I have thought of the struggles we will go through and even more, the struggles our children will have. There conviction will have to be so much more than what we have had just to make it through this next few years. The schools (colleges especially) are trying to take away what our founding fathers gave to us and it makes me mad and upset and sad and scared. I am so thankful for the church and the leadership of a profit. As long as our country can maintain its religious freedoms, I feel like my children have a chance to grow up knowing how this country was founded and what a great nation it is, despite what some are trying to take away.
I tear up all the the time when I am at school and the say the pledge so you are not alone.
Great post!!
Ok so I can not figure out how to fix typos - so if you can, change my mis use of "there" to "their" and "profit" to "Prophet" - that's what happens when you are watching TV and commenting on blogs at the same time!
So true, so true! It has been a really hard week since the election. I am so grateful for our founding fathers and the sacrifices that were made. I hate to think of what their thought might be of what we have become. I too like Steph, am just grateful for a living prophet to guide and direct us.
It has been forever. Your family is beautiful! They grow up so fast don't they? We have 2 at USU one in high school and one in 6th grade. Time flies...it makes me long for the nights without sleep. I hope you are all doing well.
Thanks for a great post LaRae. I love the quote from Teddy Roosevelt.
Way to go on this post! It really has truly been a time of reflection on where our nation and world is heading. But we do need to continue to be so patriotic to this great country of ours. I am ready for what's ahead, and am determined to face it with a positive attitude of faith and hope. I loved the quotes you put in there.
Times they are a changin! Like your post says all we can do is up hold the ideals and values that we have been taught, and hope and pray that our children will follow. It is a scary time to live, and sometimes I wonder why in the heck I wanted to come down to earth....but then it comes to me that the price we are paying will be so worth the pay off in the end. Thanks for a beautiful post sis!
Amen LaRae! I am so grateful for our Country. I even voted this year!
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