No Greater Loves

This afternooon, we ventured out to a July 4th celebration in Duanesburg. It was a small, informal gathering, but well worth the trip out there. It was a wonderful history lesson, wherein Barbara Watt reminded us of the sacrifices the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence made - most of them, their lives. I was aware of their sacrifices, but am sure not many people are. Truth be told, it is not anything we were ever taught in school, because it does not fit into the agenda of the liberal masses controlling American education. I love my country, perhaps to a fault. I cannot say the Pledge of Allegiance, hear the Star Spangled Banner or thank a soldier without tears welling up. If I am at home, and I hear TAPS or the Star Spangled Banner on the television, I stand, silently, out of respect and gratitude, tears almost a certainty. I am a rarity, I am afraid, as far too many people take everyday freedoms for granted and do not realize that the line between what we have now - thanks to the courageous men who selflessly risked their lives by signing the Declaration of Independence - and not having those freedoms is being erased by our own inactions, ambivalence and arrogance. People have become of the mindset that voting is an expression of their rights, which, though partially true, is also a gross underestimate of the power and purpose of democracy. Voting is an obligation; To those who provided and defend, to this day, the very ideals upon which our great nation was founded. It is an obligation to our children to ensure that we keep a firm grip on those ideals. It is a duty to vote to maintain the entire American dream. For generations, people from all over the globe have given everything to become Americans, yet many Americans totally lack appreciation of the gift it is to be an American. As I said, I love my country.

I also love my family to a fault. Our day at the picnic was cut short when Brodie, in a typical display of 2-year-old agility, launched himself off a picnic bench and met the concrete with his face. He ripped his lip open and let out a scream. I am a non-reactionary Mom, because I have learned that kids feed off of our anxieties. I scooped him up and held him while Scott cleaned the blood from his face and assessed the injury. Barb got him ice to stop the bleeding and he was calm as could be. The swelling made it hard to determine a need for stiches, so we erred on the side of caution and headed to the emergency room. The trip there made me sick to my stomach. I thought of the possibility of having to watch him have stiches. My heart sank in the way only a parent's can as I thought of how scared he would be. Once we got there, they determined that he didn't need stitches, but we discovered that he broke one of his front teeth off. It could have been so much worse, but, once you see your child bleed, it takes some time for that to sink in. He's no worse for the wear, but it was another reminder to me that my entire world is my family. The love I have for them is more than any one heart should be able to produce. There is no greater love.