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Happy 4th of July! I hope you’re able to create happy memories with family and friends while celebrating our nation’s independence.
The song “God Bless America” was written by Irving Berlin in 1918 during WWI, and then revised by him in 1938 during WWII:
“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home.”
Considering the turmoil at home and around the world, and the fact that this is an election year, I invite all of you to pray for our country, beloved despite all its imperfections. Pray for our leaders and citizens, and for our residents, allies, and adversaries.
May God grant wisdom to all those who’ve been elected to make decisions on our behalf and inspire them to work toward unity and peace. May He also guide and protect those in the armed forces.
May our Lord bless all of us. May we reach out in kindness to our neighbors, including those who are different from us. May we see past our differences and seek the common good for all people.
Also, if you haven’t already, I urge you to register to vote – and then vote on election day! Voting gives you a say in government. As they say, if you don’t vote, don’t complain! Not every country gives its citizens this privilege.
And, if you want to have a substantial impact on your local community, run for public office. The people who serve on your local city council and school board are ordinary citizens just like you who are trying to make your community a better place for all.
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”
May God bless the land we love.
“Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!
His mercy for us is strong; the faithfulness of the Lord is forever. Hallelujah!”
– Psalm 117
“Lord, bless the USA.”
p.s.
Here’s some fun news to share, if you haven’t heard already…. I sing in a women's a cappella quintet called "Grace Notes." Now in our third summer of performing, we’re going to sing "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch of the Akron RubberDucks baseball game on Sunday, July 21st! The game starts at 1:05 PM.
Discounted tickets are available for you! Click on the link below to get $12 tickets. Feel free to share the link with your friends.
https://fevo-enterprise.com/s/other/Gracenotes7?purl=875a6fdf7d5e
I hope to see you on Sunday, July 21, at Canal Park!
Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell Comments are always welcome!
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P.S.
Pray for peace at home, in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.
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