Monday, April 15, 2013

The America I Love

The events in Boston yesterday rocked my world, as I'm sure it did yours. 4 months after Newtown, the day before the anniversary of Virginia Tech... My generation has been defined by the tragedies we have endured.

After hearing of the bombings in Boston, I spent the day in fear. My son was born 3 days after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, and I feel like I've spent his entire life terrified that when the time came that we were faced with something of this magnitude, I would be unable to protect him. I don't want him to live his life fearing large crowds, public events, and even going to school, but I felt that the only way to protect him was to keep him as far away from things like that as possible.

But, I've recently realized that while it is my job to protect him from what I can, his ultimate protector is my almighty God. Just as I should turn my worries and fears over to Him, I should trust Him to protect and provide for my son as He sees fit.

By giving in to that fear, I was letting these terrorists, foreign or domestic, win already. They want our country confused, shaken and scared.

But what these evil people do not know is that this country does NOT cower.

We do NOT run.

We may be frightened, but fear does NOT define us.

Every time a tragedy of this magnitude unfolds, I am unbelievably proud of the American citizens I see all around me. When bombs are going off and people are dying, our first responders and even civilians are running TOWARDS the carnage, to help those in need.

A report out of Boston today told of strangers throwing themselves on top of children they did not know, in order to protect them from the blast.

THAT is the America I'm proud to be a part of. These terrorists have no idea who they are messing with. You may knock us down briefly, but as long as we continue to rally together in the face of adversity, our country will NEVER fall victim to terror.

In the wake of yet another tragedy, I encourage you to reflect, mourn for those we have lost, and allow yourself to grieve. But when you are done, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and remember- you are an American, and we do not live our lives in fear. As Nikki Giovanni said when she addressed Virginia Tech 6 years ago-



"WE WILL PREVAIL!"





Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

3 comments:

  1. Well said my dear... keep working on your blog I love reading it. You are an excellent writer. Especially on my school papers...haha jk

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  2. So I am pretty sure I just posted under your gmail, sorry!

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  3. With the truth of Benghazi coming out yesterday and today, the fertilizer plant looking more like an attack then an accident, the three poor girls that had been hostage for over 10 years, the IRS having to apologize to the Tea Party for unfairly targeting them, and a bunch of fertilizer missing......i posted earlier that I was finding it hard to stay prayerful and not get angry. Your post touched me in such a way I teared up and got chill bumps. One of those things I call "divine appointments". Your Blog was JUST what I needed to hear today. Great job. Jacquie Roper-Hosey

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