Blog Celebrations Don't Have to Be Big or Loud

Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash

Monday was Independence Day or as we usually call it, the 4th of July." Over the years we've celebrated in many ways. When there was a big firework show at the fairgrounds, we attended with good friends Jeff & Gloria Geiselamn and our families. They had a pickup and we'd get into the back and settle in with snacks to watch the show.

When the Fredrickson family had reunions over the 4th, we'd watch fireworks or do some family activity, which included grilling and eating picnic-style--whether in the Black Hills or Manitou Springs. One year the Arch held its own fireworks show and we attended with brother and SIL, Paul and Lorene.

One of my fondest memories was the year we planned to go to the fairgrounds but didn't quite make it. Keith usually didn't get home from work until 9. Our family was hurrying north when we went over the overpass on H. We looked up and had an excellent view of the fireworks show that had already begun.

Keith parked our car at the bottom. Keith and I, our kids Chris and Cassie walked up, and settled on top to watch the show. Not much later, Paul and Lorene, also late, drove onto the overpass. They saw and slowed. Instead of heading north, they parked and joined us. We had a great time together watching the fireworks without any of the hassle.

Some years when our kids were growing up, we bought our own fireworks and shot them off.

This year we were alone. No kids or grandkids. We celebrated quietly and together. I touched base with Facebook friends and family. We enjoyed our food and chose to watch a movie instead of watching fireworks. Unlike many who don't seem to understand or care what the celebration is all about anymore, we know the why of July 4th.

While not all is well with America, we are thankful for the country of freedom, faith, and family our parents and others fought for. It is also up to us not let falsehoods about our founding take the place of truth.

We need to share the truth about the founders and the founding of America so that, however, we celebrate, we'll still have a reason to celebrate our freedom, faith, and families.

(c) 2022 Carolyn R Scheidies

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Blog dangers of historical ignorance

My brother Paul’s birthday is June 22nd. Since his passing in 2019, we remember him by taking his widow out to eat. This year, my sister Karin from Kansas chose to join us. But she had another reason for visiting.

When Dad died in 1988 in International Falls, MN where he made his home, my sister, brother, myself and his wife and family went through his things to make choices for our families. Some items, such as his pastor's collection of books, were given away to other pastors, with other items going to his close friends. We were far from home and needed to return home so much of dad’s things were packed up.

Paul brought them home with the idea Karin, Paul and I would go through the boxes later. Only we never did, and years passed by.Then Paul died and now we had to deal with his things and Dad’s things. Two years later, we’re still going through things.

Part of Karin’s trip to Kearney included going through items from World War II he collected while he was overseas as well as Minneapolis newspapers Mom saved from the end of the war.

We divided pictures and got rid of negatives we would never turn into photos. We found any number of Bibles. one was special. It was a small worn Bible with a zipper that Mom gave Dad and, we suspect, the Bible went through the war with Dad.

There were maps, and books to help soldiers make their way around a foreign country. Dad was a medic in Italy and North Africa right behind the front lines. These soldiers went overseas to protect their own families and nation from the evil perpetuated on European citizens, especially Jewish people, evil that included torture, starvation, experimentation, and death.

At great sacrifice, American and other soldiers defeated the Nazi dictatorship that threatened the entire world. Yet today, and especially since many schools do not teach actual history, many individuals have no clue of the importance of the World Wars to keep America free, It gets worse.

Before Independence Day I heard a reporter ask regular persons on the street what we celebrated on July 4th. A great many had no idea. Our young people aren’t turning away from our Constitutional principles of faith and freedom--they’ve never been taught about them.

Many in schools are taught a form of history that is twisted, bigoted--such as the Critical Race Theory (CRT), and altogether false. If a nation loses its history, it loses its foundation and a nation without a foundation will crumble. There are far too many in places of education and government who are hoping for this result.

I was thankful that we had Dad’s reminders of what Dad fought for so long again. I was even more thankful, that when I contacted our kids and grandkids, they wanted those WWII mementos.

As long as we have citizens who care about the past and share it with the next generation, America might actually survive.

I pray the sacrifices of our soldiers have not been in vain.
© 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies
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Blog Politics Freedom—historical context

Read: I Peter 2:13-17

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.--I Peter 2:16 (KJV)

Fireworks boom in the ears and marvel the eyes as they spread colorful displays high in the night sky. For all the buildup and excitement, not to mention money spent on fireworks for Independence Day, how many of us sit down with our children or grandchildren to teach them, and to remind ourselves, what it is we celebrate on July 4th and why this celebration is so important?

Do our children and grandchildren understand the struggle the Americans had against an autocratic king across the ocean who refused to grant basic liberties accorded to other British citizens, while continually finding ways to raise taxes--on almost everything?

Do they understand that many of our founding fathers, the ones most committed to making sure Americans were treated with dignity, lost property, lost their money, and lost loved ones in a war they believed critical to freedom?

Do our children and grandchildren know aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins who have gone to war to preserve a nation of freedom--some even paying with their lives? What of families, wives, mothers, and children, who lost loved ones far across the ocean in foreign lands?

Do they understand the true cost of growing up in America?

These days, schools don’t often teach history without spin and revision. It is up to us as parents and grandparents to pass on the faith and freedom that is the basis of America. If they do not know, if they aren’t taught the actual history, if they take their freedom of faith for granted, they will lose freedom and the right to worship.

It is already happening. America’s freedom started with men and women recognizing the true source of freedom--Jesus Christ. We need to pass on this faith as well.

Do I?

Thank you Jesus that, despite all the problems, I am privileged to live in America. Help me not take either my faith or my freedom for granted. Help me pass these concepts on to a new generation. Amen.

Meditations:
Monday: John 8:32
Tuesday: Galatians 5:1
Wednesday: Galatians 6:13-14
Thursday: Romans 6:7-8
Friday: Romans 6:22-23
Saturday: Romans 8:20-21

From Listen? Who Me?
(c) 2018 Carolyn R Scheidies