We're fresh off celebrating Independence Day here in my country and it's always a time to reflect. I reflect on the many blessings of having been born in this nation and still living in this land. There are a great many blessings from being a citizen of the United States.
I live in the land of, and have seen, the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Michigan, the Badlands, the fertile soil of my hometown, the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the caves of the Ozarks, and so many other amazing geographical sights. I have seen the mighty cities and amazing landmarks made by man: the Gateway Arch, the monuments of D.C., the towering buildings of Chicago, and so many other beautiful buildings. I am thankful to live in such a beautiful place and have so much more to see.
I live in a land that affords me many freedoms including freedom of religion and speech. I live in a country that has given me so many economic opportunities that I might not get in many other places in this world. I am glad to live in a land abounding with positive opportunities.
I love living in the United States of America. Could I live somewhere else happily? Sure. My sister lives very happily in Australia, I have relatives that loved living in Switzerland, friends that adore life in New Zealand. There are other great places to live in this world, but I'm glad to live in this place filled with its freedoms and beauty.
I'm proud that the nation I live in is one that few emigrate from but thousands upon thousands wish to immigrate to each year. I'm proud that many want to live in this place that many others spent time, energy and blood to cultivate into a place worth coming to.
My country is not a perfect place. By no means is our past completely righteous. By no means is our present completely righteous. We can do better, but that won't stop me from reflecting upon the blessings God has granted me by being born to great parents in a great nation.
I did nothing to earn my citizenship in this country. I was simply born. Now, there are many this weekend who are earning their citizenship, but I didn't have to earn mine. There are many desperately waiting and wanting to have what I did not earn.
I did nothing my citizenship in this nation, just like I did nothing to earn my Heavenly citizenship. With both citizenships comes many great blessings and many great responsibilities. Whether you're American, Nicaraguan, Australian, English or Congolese we must look to count the blessings we have because of where God has planted us. Then we must look to bloom where we are planted. We must bear fruit and make our community, currently great or otherwise, a better place for others to live in and raise a family in while we as exiles wait for our better, Heavenly country.
Here is what Yahweh told the exiles in Babylon:
"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:5-7
Christians, pray for your nation, count the blessings gained from being where God has put you and work to make your community prosper today.
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