Thankful for . . . Country

Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." And they marveled at him. (Mark 12:17)

At a loss to say it better than the poet of old, here is a statement of my thankfulness for my country:

America

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! 

My native country, thee, 

land of the noble free, thy name I love; 

I love thy rocks and rills, 

thy woods and templed hills; 

my heart with rapture thrills, like that above. 

Let music swell the breeze, 

and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song; 

let mortal tongues awake; 

let all that breathe partake; 

let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong. 

Our fathers' God, to thee, 

author of liberty, to thee we sing; 

long may our land be bright 

with freedom's holy light; 

protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

(Samuel F. Smith)

My prayer is that you are as thankful for your country as I am for mine.

Lord, thank you for providing a safe country in which to live. Help us to all be as conscientious with our citizenship as you call us to be. Amen.