Soft summer
Sunday, August 30, 2020
It was
an August night. Most of the summer
gone, and the new autumn still waiting to be born. The dripping cotton candy sky hangs on the
horizon, stretching its embellished hue to last just a little while
longer.
They
sat in the car pulled over on the road, throwbacks pouring out from the speakers,
a sense of nostalgia flooding the moment.
The boy’s dark eyes shone as he watched the sun continue to set, the
colors in the sky blending into one. The
girl watched too, her mind in deep thought.
She
closed her eyes. What is it like to feel summer?
His question lingered in her mind.
She thought of the exuding grapefruit skies that watched over gently
crashing waves. Soft sunrays that
caressed her face before the sun went to sleep.
Her clothes smelled of bonfire. A
mild embrace of warm wind that would sweep through her honey glazed hair and
her lightly floating sundress. Laughter,
happiness. Laying on the grass, under
the shade of a cherry tree, a good book in hand. Cool water refreshing her body. Her gentle fingers running through the wind
on a long drive home. Gazing up at the
night sky searching for endless constellations.
Fresh fruit and ice cream. Sand
between her toes, salty air filling her lungs.
The warmth of the sun on her skin, like a much needed hug. A sigh of relief. A fresh start.
She
opened her eyes because she knew.
“Soft,”
she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled. “Summer is
soft.”
Why I love America
Thursday, August 27, 2020
The year is 1787.
A crisp autumn breeze sweeps through the Scottish hills. Not a star lay in the sky, and the night is pitch
black. Marion McLeamont raises the
flickering candle over each of her sibling’s faces, taking in all of their
features. She turns to her mother, the
light of the candle highlights the crevices by her eyes revealing the many
smiles she’s worn through the years. She
looks down to see the calluses in her father’s hands from working in the
fields. Then she looks into his
eyes. Deep, dark eyes full of hope. Then she grabs her lover’s hand, and turns to
the ship - away from all she ever knew.
The above story is not an unusual story, but rather a
story similar to the sacrifice many first generation Americans made. This is just a glimpse of my heritage, but I
am sure many Americans would not have to look very far to find the sacrifices
their ancestors made in pursuit of the American dream.
America did not start out as a country. It started out as an idea. A dream.
Our founding fathers had the passion and drive to make that dream a
reality. When they signed the
Declaration, a bounty was put on their head, they were acutely aware of what
they were giving up for the sake of liberty.
“O beautiful for patriot dream that see beyond the years…” The words in America the Beautiful describe them
quite well. Their vision was so much more than just the here and now. They were laying a foundation of freedom for
the future generations to come. Without
this courageous era of men and women we would not get to experience the
opportunity and prosperity America has to offer.
Many people came to America with nothing and fled
persecution of religion, social class and thought. But despite what they lacked, and the set
backs they surely went through, they worked hard, they were passionate and
determined to get the job done. They
created families and passed on to their children and their children’s children the
idea that it doesn’t matter where you come from, how much money you make or
what your last name is, you can be whatever you want to be no matter your
background. It is not about leveling the
playing field, it is about being free to become whoever God intends you to be
and pursuing the right to a better life.
I have ancestors who have been fighting for the
freedom of this beautiful country since the time of America’s birth. From the Revolutionary war, to the Civil war,
to the World Wars, the Korean war and the Vietnam War, and in all branches of
the military. They were willing to sacrifice
all that they had because they cherished freedom. They valued the unlimited possibilities
America offered them so much that they risked their lives so that others could
experience its freedoms as well. It is
without a doubt that there is no other nation on this earth that has fought
harder or sacrificed more to fight for the self-respect and freedom of man than
that of America.
“O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their
country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!“
Why do I love America? Because America is a beacon of light to the
rest of the world. We were brought
together clinging to the truth that “all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are,
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The history of America is rich.
Yes, we have fought in many wars, even a war amongst ourselves. There have been ugly times. However, we have overcome. We seek to do what is right and pursue the
one thing every fellow American has in common – the desire to be free.
We have been given a great inheritance, bought with
the blood and tears of those who have gone before us. Now is the time, we as fellow Americans must
not let the sacrifice of our ancestors die in vain, and pursue freedom until
our final breath.
____
I wrote this for a competition through the Epoch
Times. Looking around at our country
today, the very idea of America is at stake.
It’s important for people to realize what makes America so beautiful and
why it is worth taking a stand for. I hope
this writing of mine reminded you of the value and dignity America has so
beautifully portrayed for many years, and I pray, for many more years to
come.
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