"May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right." -Peter Marshall From Sam... As most of you know we moved from Northwestern Washington to Central Texas at the end of May. During this past two weeks I have been amazed at the outpouring of love I have seen as people have been dealing with the ramifications of Hurricane Harvey. I was extremely touched at how many people checked on us to make sure we were ok. I received so many calls, texts, and messages checking in, and my parents said that a lot of friends and family called them as well. Thank you for thinking about us and keeping us in your prayers. Because we are about 2.5 hours from Houston we received some rain and cooler weather, but nothing significant and have been doing just fine. The town in which we live received over 1000 evacuees, and there were even more county-wide. Churches and community centers opened their doors, and volunteers were working around the clock. The amount of donations that were given was heart-warming, and I am so proud to see how we all ban together when times are tough. On September 11, 2001 I was 12 years old, and I can clearly remember watching the news and seeing the planes fly into the twin towers. It was horrific, and it made me scared, and being so young I didn't understand what it all meant and how it was going to affect my world. (12-year-olds are so egocentric...) But you know what I also remember? Hours and hours of footage of people helping people. It was the same during Hurricane Katrina 2005, Hurricane Ike in 2008, the tornadoes in the midwest in 2011, the tornado in Moore, OK in 2013, and I could go on. And when friends or family have struggles I see it too; people stepping up and helping where they are needed. It's not always convenient to help, but I can assure you it's not convenient to have your home destroyed, to lose a loved one, to receive a grim diagnosis, or whatever the struggle may be. I am always so impressed by the acts of kindness--both large and small--that I see when the world seems dark. I love Harry Potter...Not just a little bit, but I ADORE the series! And I've always really liked the quotable lines that are applicable to life. This quote comes from book 5 when Harry is talking to his God-Father Sirius and telling him that he's concerned that he might be "bad". I love Sirius' response. None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes, but everyday we can make choices about who we want to be. I've joked with Aaron so many times, "If my parenting is graded on effort I get a solid A. If it's graded on execution I think I'm sitting around a B-." In life there's no measuring tool for goodness, only we know how how far we've come. I hope that we all can take the opportunity to act on the good. I can tell you from hearing about experiences from evacuees that a simple kindness from you can mean the world to someone else. From Molly... I woke up before the dawn today. I love the smell of that time in the morning and how cool the dry air is. I thought about how peaceful it was and how blessed I am that every morning can feel like this. As the sun crests the mountains, it fills me with hope not only for my day but for my life. What a blessing to live in such a country! As I was at the gym I saw people lifting some seriously heavy weights. Like “wow, your bicep is as big as my thigh!” It looked HARD! Why do they do it? Because it makes them stronger. Today is the memorial of 9/11. I remember that day well. I woke up in the morning and I saw my mom in front of the television and she was crying. I saw two buildings on the screen and smoke was billowing out of them. I didn’t understand exactly what it meant, but I did understand from that day forward that some people don’t like America and want to destroy this land and our freedoms. And although the towers fell and so many people’s lives were tramatically impacted, I also know that it made us stronger. During WWII the Germans sent countless air raids to London in order to make the people live in a state of fear. However, their randomized raids actually did the opposite. It rallied the British together, and became the “norm” for them. There is even a story about a large theatre in London that reopened during that time period, and when the raids would come, they would simply stop the show until the noise was done then they would keep playing. A fearful people is a weak people, but a hopeful people is a strong people. It seems to me that the vast majority of us do a lot of complaining and a little working. During the last election I actually deleted my FB account because I was so tired of hearing people talk and complain about politics and our government, with no commitment to civic duty or becoming involved in the political process. Perhaps we’d like to think that we make a difference simply by stating our opinion, but the truth is opinions without diligent work and organization quickly dissipate like a jet stream. That first sonic boom sure is loud, but within 30 minutes there is nothing left to see or hear. I think we could all do better about spending less time idly expressing our opinions and more time getting our hands dirty in the service of our country. There are countless organizations we could join, service groups we could volunteer for and causes we could actively and consistently support or oppose. Our involvement in local politics does much more to determine federal politics than we might realize. In fact, I’ve been working on a project for about a year to help people know exactly how to become more involved, and hopefully by the end of the year I will have launched it and you will all be the first to know! Because I too have more I need to do! When I picture Old Glory I picture her tattered by the rage of war, lifted by the hands of our military, stitched by our founding fathers, and hung and revered by us all, the people who get to enjoy everything she has and does stand for. I love my country. I am proud to be an American and I know that I have a part in defining what it means to be an American. All my life I want my hands to be dirty from working to preserve the values and life that I love. Many people know the popular quote by President Lincoln saying that “a house divided against itself cannot stand” but most people don’t know that he was quoting the Bible. In Matthew Jesus states “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (KVJ). As a people we will disagree. In fact, I think it’s good that we do. There isn’t always one right way, but the closest we can get to a perfect way is to work together, to embody the characteristics that Christ embodied: patience, respect, charity, hard work, diligence, vision, selflessness, humility, and moral courage. If becoming involved in the political sphere seems overwhelming remember that the first and most important house to have united is your own - your family. If we cannot model these values in our own homes, how do we expect to in any other avenue? From families come homes, from homes come communities, from communities come states, and from states come countries. Let’s get our own houses in order and then let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work putting our money where our mouth is. O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto - "In God is our trust," And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you to all who serve our country in whatever capacity they are able! From Emma...
I was six when the Twin Towers fell. I remember watching little snippets of it on TV while my mom tried to both protect from and explain the goings on to such a young mind. I remember the next time we flew shortly thereafter I was really scared and as we walked through security, to the gate and on to the plane I could feel the fear well up inside me like something tangible. My mom leaned down to check on me as I sat rigid in my seat in coach, eyes darting back and forth, wondering who the bad guy was among the throngs of people surrounding me. "I'm afraid," I told her, as the plane roared to life and began moving. "Emma," she said, "If you feel afraid, then they have won." The assurances that followed didn't impact me so much as that initial statement. I've been really sick a mere handful of times in my life. Last night it hit me like a freight train though and I spent half the night on the pot with the garbage can in my hands (I apologize for the graphic visual). Jordan and I prayed last night as we lay in bed for me and my health. As I lay miserable and over emotional Jordan said to have faith. In a moment of self pity I asked him what that really means to have faith. He said that faith is hope, rooted in God and a knowledge of his power and that he has a plan. God is power and grace. He is peace and comfort. He is all good things that bring light to otherwise dark places. As I lay in bed contemplating faith and my own misery that would "undoubtedly last forever" I was reminded of that hope that appears most strong when suffering is present. As a six year old I was given the opportunity to learn trust in humanity and watch as we put the pieces back together with a focus on the needs of others. This morning my husband ran to the store for things that are illness appropriate, my sister dropped off a bag of things to help with the recovery without every being asked, and a neighbor volunteered to make dinner for us. The world is full of wonderful people but if we don't pause to see it, we allow fear to win. I lived in South America for a time when I was about 18. It was an eye opening experience. Everything we did, we did in pairs. Certain parts of the city were off limits. Rules were placed as a protection to us and any long excursions needed to be approved and required accompaniment from those that spoke the language fluently and had a firm grasp on the culture. It was beautiful but the separation made coming home even sweeter than it had been on trips before. Upon returning home I recognized something new within myself. It was a newfound gratitude for home and country, and the freedoms it represents. It was a pride that transcends simple politics and displays the greatness of a nation founded on morality and vision, with God at the center. To this day, my heart swells with pride and my eyes fill with tears whenever I hear the Star Spangled Banner sung. We are America and it is a privilege unlike any other to be part of this great nation. In this world there is suffering that goes far beyond me laying in bed with the flu, but maybe if I take the time I can learn empathy ad discover what it means to help another. That is what America is to me; a nation built and preserved on strangers, families, friends, reaching out to lift each other. And as it is with so many things in life, "If you feel afraid, they have won." Don't let the fear of what is or what's to come keep you from the strength grounded in faith and hope. "I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." -Leonardo da Vinci God bless America!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
who we areSpread the Good: Three sisters embracing the human experience, ups and downs included, inviting others to join the celebration.
AuthorsThree sisters, three years apart, three words: Spread the Good Archives
January 2021
Check Out Molly's Book! |