There are a few days in my life I seem to feel like I’m in the middle of a huge plot, as if my life is swirling around me and I’m just standing there with popcorn…. Watching… waiting… realizing that it’s very little about me and mostly about a great big plan. It’s a good plan, one that is meant for my good. I have lived a good life and up un til now I have been especially blessed to not have suffered too many tragedies; I have had my fair share of hurts and dissatisfaction with mostly myself. Days like this make me reflective of how far I’ve come. I’m usually too stubborn to give up and thankfully that can be said about we Americans!

Tomorrow is the two hundred and fifty year birthday of our country, land of the free and home of the brave. I was not there at the beginning but I do remember the two hundred year celebration in 1976, I was a junior in high school ( I’m old) and it was a big deal. The whole town (Murfreesboro, Tn) was red, white and blue! There were parades and such and I’m sure that politicians were equally as boastful about this tremendous event, but I do remember everyone being on the same page with all the pride and amazement we made it this long as a free and beautiful nation.

This year we are in 2026( I’m even older) and I see a huge gap in the pride and amazement. Apparently many Americans have forgotten… the legacy we have and the privilege we have to be born into this great nation. It’s no big mystery why everyone wants to live here. We are a huge family where everyone is welcome and here is a piece of apple pie! I still believe it’s possible because I know how we got here, I know who made a way, who inspired and influenced the founders of our young republic.

What grounds me is this belief in the true and good, God is God and we are not and that is the best news. I know what a chicken I am. All the people (mostly men) who came before us who left safety and fought for the land they love to keep us free. Those men way back when made the ultimate sacrifice while the women kept the home front admirable in their own right (thank you menfolk, I take back any dumb man jokes, sorry about that, yall are pretty cool for that!) my own father, brother and two nephews served and this country would be long gone had you not stepped up!We are forever grateful for the protection you gave us all.

The other blessing in my life is my family. I am from strong stock, my family raised me to work hard and be a good person, I am of Scotch-Irish decent and very loved and I knew it. I came from a strong legacy and that is important to a kid. When I grew up I married a good man from a good family, his family also has a strong legacy. Deeply rooted in the Lord for which I was not raised. It was different and new for me.. my heart was open and my head caught up. The fruit of the Spirit runs deep in his family, love, joy, hospitality, kindness as well as the other nine. From day one they took me in, they treated me like I was one of them and created a way of life that I deeply longed for. I am forever changed by their love for the Lord and the love for my preacherman and me.

The preacherman is fourth generation in the (Church of God) preacher’s world and it is an honor to be his wife. I have even felt this more strongly since we moved back “Home!” If feels there has been a shift in our world and I have a suspicion or more of a confidence that the Lord is up to something and it will be fun to watch.. once again here I stand, popcorn in hand, watching and waiting. During a recent family funeral of a patriarch of the family, I was in awe of the deep roots in our family and the honor and love that each one had for the other; the reputation of a fine man remembered by all and too soon there was another. This home going was harder in some ways but as I observed the love in this part of the family; the support and the caring each daughter and their families had for their Mom gave me such joy. Those girls married well, they are all fine men and all their children are full of love for their grandparents. They lost their solid rock, but just for a little while because they all know they will see him again. It’s been said that Christians die well and I have seen evidence of this fact. It’s not easy and my vote is that it doesn’t happen any more.

This girl who has been blessed by this family will be forever grateful to them and even more the Lord.. He is our legacy!