7For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?8And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?9"Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren...
Moses really desired for the Israelites to think about, to reflect upon how God had established and blessed their nation. Later in verses 39 and 40, we read:39Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.40You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time."
We can be challenged to take the time and to consider those things which are meaningful for us. We can reflect on how we have seen God's hand manifested in our lives and give Him praise. We can consider His ways and His will for our lives this day. And, we can even give God thanks for allowing us to live in this great nation, that was founded with a desire to practice His principles and honor Him. Pondering on the spiritual meaning of our lives is an instructive and inspiring practice that can enhance our appreciation of our Lord.
We have much for which to be thankful - God has given us each day, this day, as a gift, and perhaps it's helpful to stop and think, to stop and THANK Him for His hand in our lives. Here are the opening words of Psalm 103:
1A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!2Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:3Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,4Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,5Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
A heartwarming story out of the Houston area can help us appreciate what's truly important. Recently, at Smith Middle School in Cypress, Texas, the students engaged in their daily morning ritual: saying the Pledge of Allegiance, the Texas pledge, and a moment of silence.
Hartman told KPRC-TV in Houston. ““It was phenomenal...It was an instant impact kind of thing. Goosebump moment.”
A heartwarming story out of the Houston area can help us appreciate what's truly important. Recently, at Smith Middle School in Cypress, Texas, the students engaged in their daily morning ritual: saying the Pledge of Allegiance, the Texas pledge, and a moment of silence.
That day, according to TheBlaze.com website, when a 7th-grade teacher, Samantha Nuber saw something unusual outside Smith that morning, she got the attention of her partner teacher Garrett Hartman and had him take a look, too. He was so moved by what he saw that he had to take a photograph — and since it was first posted on Facebook, the image has touched a viral nerve.
They saw a man standing on the grass, who heard the pledges and the moment of silence on the morning the photo was taken and dropped his equipment and joined the teachers and students.
They saw a man standing on the grass, who heard the pledges and the moment of silence on the morning the photo was taken and dropped his equipment and joined the teachers and students.
Hartman told KPRC-TV in Houston. ““It was phenomenal...It was an instant impact kind of thing. Goosebump moment.”
The man on the grass was Clayton Allen, Jr., a 21-year-old graduate and now groundskeeper for the school district.
After taking the photograph, Hartman said he and Nuber went outside to meet Allen.
Allen told the TV station about his chat with the teachers: “It made me feel like Superman to be honest with you...It made me feel good on the inside."
Allen said he recited the Pledge of Allegiance because he feels “blessed every day.”
“I’m so thankful for the day and the country that I’m in,” he added.
Susan Higgins, principal of Smith Middle School, told TheBlaze there’s been a noticeable effect among teachers and students since Allen’s patriotic gesture was shared. She said that one of the assistant principals told her that as she recited the pledge over the school’s PA system recently, a couple of students who were in the hallway stopped walking and put their hands over their hearts and recited the pledge as well.
The principal also said that Republican State Rep. Dan Branch — who she said sponsored a bill giving students the chance to recite both pledges and have a moment of silence — made a trip to Smith and awarded Allen with a certificate and glass-encased American flag.
Allen told the TV station about his chat with the teachers: “It made me feel like Superman to be honest with you...It made me feel good on the inside."
Allen said he recited the Pledge of Allegiance because he feels “blessed every day.”
“I’m so thankful for the day and the country that I’m in,” he added.
Susan Higgins, principal of Smith Middle School, told TheBlaze there’s been a noticeable effect among teachers and students since Allen’s patriotic gesture was shared. She said that one of the assistant principals told her that as she recited the pledge over the school’s PA system recently, a couple of students who were in the hallway stopped walking and put their hands over their hearts and recited the pledge as well.
The principal also said that Republican State Rep. Dan Branch — who she said sponsored a bill giving students the chance to recite both pledges and have a moment of silence — made a trip to Smith and awarded Allen with a certificate and glass-encased American flag.
The gesture and the picture have touched a nerve, it seems - in a positive way. Why? I really do believe that perhaps we have become so desensitized in our nation to what it means to be an American that to see a real expression of patriotism will move us. I believe this story can help us to think more deeply about what is important.
Allen's gesture was an expression of his thankfulness. He said he feels "blessed every day", and was thankful for the day and his country. Think about that - if we regard each day as a gift from God, full of potential to walk closer to Him and to glorify His name, it could change the way that we approach that day. We are not merely called to a mundane existence; rather, we are placed here for a purpose, and God has provided this day - even April Fools' Day, when we take things less seriously - this day, as a period of time during which He desires to show Himself mightily to and through you.
This 21-year-old groundskeeper can challenge our appreciation of life itself, as well as to take our citizenship seriously. And, that means not only our citizenship in heaven, but also our part in the American experience. We are blessed to live in a country that has been founded on Christian principles, where, even though we have a sizable number of people who do not embrace those values, we can still live our lives with a significant amount of religious freedom, to be able to live the Christian life openly and share Christ faithfully without fear. The American experiment, with its foundation of a deeply-rooted morality, still survives, and we can be thankful that God has allowed us to live here.
All in all, Clayton Allen's picture can remind us that it's important periodically to stop and think, to appreciate the meaningful things in life, and to give thanks to God for the blessings that He has provided to us. We have to continue to look beyond the simple, everyday routine and the tasks that we perform and realize some of the deeper truths, the bigger picture, and the overriding hand of God.
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