Thursday's Thought

1 Timothy 2:1-3

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Good morning, one and all!

We are over halfway through the month of November, as well as being that far into the subject of thankfulness. Today's spoonful relates to being thankful for America, as some have penned - "The home of the free because of the brave." I know it's changing, but I still want to say thanks for living in this great country.

My desire today is not to point out what's going wrong in America, but to show gratitude for the good that I have seen most of my life in this great land. I do not thrive on debating political issues, and do not feel qualified to even discuss much along those lines, but just allow me to say a few words for the America that I do love. 

I'm grateful for all the states that I have traveled to during my sixty-two years upon this earth. If my memory is correct, I have been in fifteen states. I have seen much of this great land - beautiful flowers, fields, lakes, the ocean, many sunrises and sunsets, etc. The first time I visited North Carolina (it may have been my only time), azaleas were blooming and I had never seen such beautiful flowers. When we were privileged to visit Hawaii in 1999, I witnessed the most beautiful sunsets and I marveled at the sounds of the ocean while I was there.

This song from my childhood, and one that most people have heard, is a favorite of mine. I love both its lyrics and its melody. Since there are quite a few verses, I will only include the first one:

America the Beautiful

words by Katharine Lee Bates

melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies

For amber waves of grain

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America, America

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

My prayer today is for this land that I have called home all my life. May God help America in this trying hour, and may God help the people of America to turn their hearts toward Him.

Have a tremendous Thursday, and I hope to see you again tomorrow!