Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

Nov

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted by: DaronFraley Tags: Patriotism, Thanksgiving

I am very grateful today for all of the blessings I have. As I think about each of the privileges which I enjoy, my mind keeps coming back to the meaning of this holiday–why it was instituted and by whom.

It is a national holiday, one which finds its roots in the hopes and desires of men and women willing to sacrifice all, even what very, very little they had, in order to come to a free land so that they might live out their dreams. They dreamed to be free from oppressive government, to be free to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience, and to own property so that they might have the freedom to live in peace.

This is how the great United States of America started. Explorers came. Then the oppressed followed. I believe with all my heart that they were brought here by the hand of an Almighty God who loved them. That truth was brought home to me as I watched a special on the history channel yesterday about the Mayflower. They were preserved and protected.

As I contemplate who these people were and what they did, I realize that they were not perfect. Some of them did not treat the native peoples as they should have. But many did. Many tried to live in peace with the American Indians. In the 1800’s, the Mormons did. And they were not the only ones who tried.

I know that this land is preserved by the hand of God for His own purposes. I know that if we serve Him according to the commandments which he has given us, it will always remain a land of liberty to those who are here. It will never be brought into captivity.

But this I also know: It is our duty to remain faithful to God and his commandments. Contrary to what Barack Obama might say, this nation IS a Judeo-Christian nation. It was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. The founding fathers were believing men. They leaned on the power of God to preserve them.

I was thoroughly impressed by President Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation read by Glenn Beck yesterday. The full text can be found here:

Thanksgiving Proclamation – Abraham Lincoln

I wonder, when was the last time as a nation that we prayed to God, in “humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience” as Lincoln said? This nation has gone far astray from the pure fount from which our roots drew strength and nourishment when it was young.

It is my prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for the great privileges which I personally enjoy, that this nation will be preserved because of the efforts, even the very lives, lived by the righteous among us. Let us not be like Sodom which would have been spared had there been but ten righteous found. Let our voices be heard among the people. Let our voices reach the heavens in supplication for mercy. And may we always be thankful–grateful for the men and women who gave all so that this nation would be born during days of revolution, unified during days of civil war, and protected during days of world wars.

God Bless America!

Happy Thanksgiving

1 Comment

Nov

Happy Veteran’s Day

Posted by: DaronFraley Tags: Patriotism, Veteran's Day

My father was in the National Guard. Grandpa Fred Fraley was in the Navy in WWII. I still have his navy cap and his navy training manual. My father-in-law Wilmer ‘Doc’ Farley (no, that is not a typo) was in the Army in Korea, and both of his brothers served too: Lowell, in the Air Force, and Darrell, in the Marines (I think). My mother-in-law tells me that one day Doc saw Darrell walk over a hill towards him, and they had a short, surprise-reunion there in Korea. My wife also has nephews who both served in Iraq.

My Grandfather Clarence E. Feyhl was in the Army in WWII. We just had his funeral about a month ago, with military honor-guard and flag ceremony. As the cemetery proceedings came to a close, I wanted to go and thank those men and women who came in uniform, with their rifles, to honor my Grandfather, but didn’t get the chance. How many hours of service do these great men and women continue to render at funerals all around the country? Can those hours even be counted?

When I was newly married with only one young daughter and another on the way, I tried to join the Army–to be a Linguist. I wanted to learn Hebrew and Arabic. They rejected me on medical reasons. But I am an Eagle Scout, and continuing to work with the Scouts has added to my own patriotism. Being a part of my great family with so many who have served has been a blessing.

I love our veterans. I have immense respect for them. I have cried when I have heard TAPS at their funerals. Seeing flags presented to widows and children has almost made me sob. I have saluted the flag with a hand over my heart, and at other times when in my scout uniform, with the boy-scout salute. This morning I helped the scouts put up almost 100 flags at homes around our neighborhood, a service which I am pleased to do.

My heart has always been with this great country. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Happy Veteran’s Day. And may God continue to bless and protect this great country. To those of you who are Vets: Thank you. My sincere thanks for your time away from family. My thanks for your patriotism. My thanks for your sacrifices, and even your lives. May you be richly rewarded in heaven for your service.

3 Comments