Wednesday April 19 2017  TO LIVE AND SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL

Sorting books from my vast collection can become quite tedious.  However, to be truthful, I am enjoying it immensely.   Though I should probably be rushing through everything I am doing I have chosen to take my time and give consideration to each item I touch.  I sort for short periods of time and seem to tolerate the physical labor of bending and stooping by doing it this way.  I read every title, put like subjects together, and just keep building my stacks as I shelve and continue to sort. 

I have run across so many books that I hope to read some day (you know, when I get finished with all my work and have nothing else to do).  Today I came across the book “Elson-Gray Basic Readers, Book Six”, by William H. Elson and William S. Gray and Christine M. Keck, published in 1931.  It was obviously a curriculum book for the sixth grade class with 465 pages of small print and an occasional small hand-drawn illustration.  It had a book mark in it and I couldn’t help but turn to the page and read where the marker was. 

I thought it excellent reading and doubted if such a page could be found in a 6^th grade (or any other grade for that matter) reader in today’s current curriculum.  I decided to share it with you verbatim.

 

“Part Four

Young American Citizens

 

TRUE CITIZENS

(by) MARY E. MCDOWELL

God hath made all the nations of men, and we are His children, brothers and sisters all.  We are citizens of these United States and we believe our flag stands for self-sacrifice for the good of all the people.  We wish, therefore, to be true citizens of our great country, and will show our love for her by our works.

Our country asks us to live for her good; so to live and so to act that her government may be pure, her officers honest, and that every home within her boundaries shall be a place fit to grow the best kind of men and women to rule over her.”

My first impression was WOW! 

Now fast forward to present day.  Just recently the students of a certain college voted to no longer fly the American flag over their events.  Their reason, the flag offends them.  I suppose they no longer believe that our flag stands for “self-sacrifice for the good of all the people”.  The faculty left it up to the students to decide what they wanted to do.

God’s name is not to be mentioned in school settings, much less to declare that we are “His children…”  I don’t think there are any text books of today that would declare that statement.  After all, you never know who you might offend.

Other than private religious schools, who now teaches us to “be true citizens of our great country…”?  This statement gave me pause to wonder how many parents even discuss with their children the need to be “true citizens”?  I think it would be safe to say that I doubt if students are taught today “ to act that her government may be pure, her officers honest, and every home within her boundaries shall be a place fit to grow the best kind of men and women…”  So many children in our society today do not live in a “place fit to  grow the best kind of men and women…” so how would they even understand that concept?

I think we are lacking in each area discussed  regarding “TRUE CITIZENS”.  So many homes no longer fulfill the “traditional” ideology of a two parent home, self supporting, god fearing, and with each accepting responsibility for their own actions.  I will venture to go so far as to say not all parents guide their children to show “our love for her (our country) by our works”.  

The way I perceive it, somewhere along the way we have become a lost nation and it appears we are losing our children in the process.  And “lost children” will raise more lost children.

 

TO LIVE AND SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL

Kathleen Martens

April 19, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

It is so true that God is our Father

But so many don’t even bother

To know the Creator who made all,

And therefore never think on His name to call.

 

We are his children, Sisters and Brothers,

Fathers and Sons, Daughters and Mothers.

Regardless our color, background, or place

We should love one another, with a smile on our face.

 

And as such citizens of such a great nation

We should bond tightly together with elation.

We should stand in support, under one flag

Through turmoil and peace, both the good and the bad.

 

To live and sacrifice for the good of all,

To uphold our government so it will not fall.

To live pure and honest in a fallen world

Instead of insults constantly being hurled.

 

But in its place the world is full of hate and sin

Our doors must be locked so others can’t get in.

What should we expect when we don’t open our heart’s door

To accept God’s love, and so much more?

 

Thank You God that my life has not always been lived in a time of such political turmoil.

Thank You God that I am confident in Your love.

Thank You God that you have taken all anger and hatred from my heart.

Thank You God for blessing our country for so many years.

 

GOD BLESS YOU!