I am extremely late on the birthday entry, her birthday was on last Saturday. God thought she deserved a bigger balloon; they didn't have any of the 6" I usually get so I got her a 9", hey it's a milestone. Surprisingly enough I handled it well. This last week has been a spiritual roller coaster. I was thinking about the book I read for my last bible study (Redeeming Love) and I gotta tell you the lord spoke to me even all these weeks later.
As I have mentioned before, as a child I attended church with my grandmother (a great women of God). After she passed away I only returned to church on a couple of occasions with others that I have known and every time I would begin to cry and cry throughout the entire service. I can remember thinking what is wrong with me. Then I think about the way we started attending church again. Even how the lord gave me a man like Jerry who had the same core values, amazes me. And it struck me like lightning, God had been redeeming me all this time and patiently waited for me to obey. The Holy Spirit brought on those tears and emotions. I can even remember sometimes all of the sudden I would think of Hell. I mean literally going to hell, and the feeling that would overcome me and my heart would start to palpitate and I would have a mini anxiety attack just thinking of spending eternity in hell. I could actually feel the heat from the flames. Come to think of it the day Jerry and I gave accepted Jesus, the church had put on a drama called heavens gates and hells flames (wow, I just realized that). Thank God I haven't had those ugly visions since then.
Last week the church service was all about America and the 4th of July. I realized I have always taken for granted being a citizen of the greatest nation in the world. (Just a little background.) Jerry and I were both born here in the states. Jerry's parents are from Brazil, they have lived here close to 40 years (always legally) they are both even U.S. citizens. They have always taught him to be proud of his country and raised one of the most patriotic people I know. My family is from Puerto Rico, all Puerto Ricans are natural born U.S. citizens (so in essence American). I have never been as proud as Jerry and his family. I imagine it's because my family has never personally known anyone who has struggled to get here, this place I have always known as home. And we take advantage and brush it off as though it's deserved. The point I guess I'm trying to make is, this 4th of July I will take personally and very proudly I will acknowledge belonging to the greatest country in the world. The country so many risk there lives and break laws to get to. Because we have the opportunities everyone dreams of, and to them, they rather try to make it here or not live anywhere. I can just picture Jerry teaching Elena to be proud of her country. And not to sound cliche, but to ask what of herself what she can do for her country, rather than what it can do for her. Now a days more recently even I see these young people who will soon be adults and they believe the world owes them something. (Poor things are in for a rude awakening.) I think the world owes us what we give to it.
So this Independence Day reflect and ask God to continue to Bless America, truly the greatest country on earth.
To our sweet sweet baby girl, Happy Birthday, Mommie and Daddie Love you very much.
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