My Country 'Tis of Thee!

Happy Independence Day, Ya'll! Yesterday as we headed to the beach, I thought about this song. I was saddened to think that though I could roll the memory bank and hear it in my head and heart, most children and even young people in our country today, I don't believe can do that. Where will we be if we don't do a better job of passing on America's cultural history and tradition to our children? As I researched the lyrics for this posting, I further saw the emphasis on the role education plays in strengthening liberty, as noted by the author in the lyrics.

This particularly pricked my heart "No tyrant hand shall smite, While with encircling might All here are taught the Right With Truth allied." Can we really say that "all" are taught that? Especially the last 4o years or so?

Lord, America has so much to thank you for. We honor You and give You all the glory today for the freedoms and privileges we enjoy. Help us do a better job of honoring you, loving each other and leading lives of excellence, both in word and deed. Help The Church to do what the government was never intended to do. Teach us to be good citizens once again. Do a work in our hearts and minds, because we don't seem to know how to do this ourselves. Don't let us watch a pedestrian be run over and not move to help. Not ever again. Don't let us know that someone is hungry or without electricity and not help them. Not ever again. Don't let us hold back from our tithe. That is part of how we fund the help others need. God bless us, we need You! Bless, keep, encourage and keep safe our military, and first responders and their families! Thank you, Father for the opportunities You have blessed us with! The goodness, the richness. Now help us to give back! To stand strong! To serve You by serving others! Lord, deliver us from the disease of apathy!

My country, 'tis of Thee

Lyrics

by Samuel F. Smith - 1832

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 mountain side

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.

Our glorious Land to-day,'

Neath Education's sway,

Soars upward still.

Its hills of learning fair,

Whose bounties all may share,

behold them everywhere

On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty,

The school shall ever be,

Our Nation's pride!

No tyrant hand shall smite,

While with encircling might

All here are taught the Right

With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will

The stars of progress still

Our course do sway;

In unity sublime

To broader heights we climb,

Triumphant over Time,

God speeds our way!

Grand birthright of our sires,

Our altars and our fires

Keep we still pure!

Our starry flag unfurled,

The hope of all the world,

In peace and light impearled,

God hold secure!