In a year that feels like the “upside down”, I’d say that 2020 has made me acutely more aware of the blessings in my life and the things that I have taken for granted. It’s been easy to get discouraged this year, no doubt about it. As I look back, though, I see blessings and abundance in a way that I didn’t before.
I’ve always taken my freedom for granted. I guess I felt like it was a “birth right.” I was born an American citizen and freedom is all I know. I can go to church. I can say what I want. I can own a gun and use it to protect myself. I can pray to my God on the steps of city hall. I’ve always been “grateful” for the men and women who fought to give us these freedoms, but never before have I really had even a remote understanding of what they were really fighting FOR.
As we’ve progressed through 2020 we’ve seen shutdowns for a pandemic that really made no sense or had any rhyme or reason. We watched as our leaders enforced restrictions on us that they did not follow themselves. They’ve shutdown our churches and our gyms and our small businesses (which are primarily conservative/moderate owned). They’ve closed our public schools. This sure doesn’t feel like freedom.
Freedom is on the line.
Freedom is on the line. We have felt it coming for several months. With the current state of our elections, we’re very much aware that the country we know and love is hanging in the balance. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt so compelled to fight for my country like never before.
As conservatives in Washington state, we’re used to losing. In fact, we’ve become pretty apathetic about it. But this time is different. We can feel it. We know that if we don’t step up now, we stand to lose it all. Possibly for good.
America has been so blessed. We have had warriors go before us who paid the ultimate price so that we could have the lives we enjoy so much today. I am not willing to go down without a fight. I am not willing to let those lives lost be in vain. I am not willing to let my children and my future grandchildren pay the price for our complacency.
On this eve of Thanksgiving 2020, I encourage you to reflect on the liberties and freedoms we have as Americans with gratitude. Give thanks for the 4 years of President Donald J. Trump and the huge progress he has made on behalf of conservative policies and issues, both here and abroad. Give thanks for the blessings that I believe God is going to continue to bestow upon our nation in the future.
And CELEBRATE this Thanksgiving in an act of civil disobedience. Is that would our founders would do? I believe so!
