Labor

Every flag that waves, and every hand-covered heart.

Every deeply felt prayer asking God to bless America is a declaration of thanks and admiration to all those who have come before us and served.

Today is not just a day off, it is a day to wave those flags, cover those hearts, remove those hats and stand tall and brave, just as those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms have, and continue to do.

Labor day has always been a mixture of emotions for me. It is excitement for a new school year. It is sadness of the summer coming to an end. It is the reality that we have much to be thankful for.

This year is a bit more meaningful and patriotic in nature for me and my family.

The culmination of a summer of chaos and difficulty has taken its toll.

I am reminding myself daily that we have much to be thankful for.

We have health, safety and family. There is really little else that matters.

I am reminded that there are many labors that have been tolled for us to be where we are.

The sacrifice of the brave men and women of our military at home and abroad who at all costs, preserve our freedoms and the freedoms even of those who mock and cause destruction in our beautiful land and cities, all the while being protected by those men and women. I am in awe of their ability to persevere.

I am thankful for the labor of those who came before us, who built our cities, our government and gave us the foundations of faith and security. It is on their broken and tired backs that we are able to live in freedom and relative peace.

I am grateful for my husband and his bravery through a mostly good, but rather thankless career. He sacrificed daily for those who would rather see him hurt or worse. As of late, it became ultimately a choice between self-preservation and service to the community that would rather see him perish. God gave him wisdom and guidance and he listened with a humble heart.

I am grateful that I am strong in nature and willing to speak out for what is right and what is often difficult to speak about.

I take the haters for what they are worth. Little in my book.

I am open and welcome debate. Debate is not one sided. It is debate.

The object is not to change a persons mind, but rather to speak and let everyone decide.

I am not trying to change anyone’s mind. I am simply speaking mine.

In the end, labor is painstaking. It is hard, sacrificing and often tedious.

I was not sure that I would keep writing, but am drawn to speak about what holds true in my heart.

I will speak when nobody is listening. It is labor. It is right.

I pray that our nation begins to find its way in this chaos.

It would be shameful for the sacrifice and labor of so many to be destroyed for EVIL and its purposes.

It would be sinful to continue the path that many are on.

Patriotism is not the absence of God.

Patriotism is the opportunity to do what is right, not the freedom to do as we please.

To those who fight and have fought for these opportunities:

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God – Philipians 1:3