Hi friends. As we get caught up in the politics of our time,
let’s take a moment to rest and reflect, remembering our love for God who has blessed our country so,
our love for the people who have given of themselves,
and our love for our land, in all its splendor.
America the Beautiful!
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
“Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power.”
Benjamin Franklin
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” John F. Kennedy
“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” Ronald Reagan
9 comments:
Love Norman Rockwell...and what a wonderful collection you've put together. I can't choose a favorite as there are so many I love. Thanks for this sweet review. Gail (Bible Love Notes)
Thank you for linking to Heart & home, Mrs Smith.
What an amazing collection of Norman Rockwell pictures you've put together in this lovely post!
I enjoy the depictions of family togetherness in his works very much.
And the sentiments in your country's national anthem are splendid!
Liberty and freedom are precious treasures to be guarded with great care.
Along with the grace of these gifts comes the responsibility to maintain them!
God bless your week...Trish (in Australia)
nice post thanks for sharing...blessings
Beautiful post! I love all those images, but you know, I don't believe I have ever seen the ones of Presidents Kennedy and Reagan ~ wonderful! Have just found you blog, and am now following you!
Best,
Anne
Beautiful! I found Norman Rockwell's art deeply moving!
Thanks for sharing such an array of his paintings (I had never seen the Lincoln/slave one).
God bless,
What a wonderful, inspiring post, Mrs. Smith. I love our country and am fervently praying for an awakening to stir the hearts of men and women here. Only God...
My heart just smiled the whole time I read through your post. What ever happened and how did we let it happen? Thank you! Perhaps hope is being fanned into flame. Blessings, Carole
Hello,
I saw that you are following “The Enchanting Rose”. I love your choice of profile pictures; that particular picture is one of my favorites. I also read that your children are mostly grown up. Mine are the same; however, none has left home yet – two are currently in college.
I miss having small children. Of course, I am enjoying them as they grow up, but now I look forward to someday having little grandchildren around.
Norman Rockwell was amazing! What wonderful painting he painted. In this post, his family tree painting made me smile, especially the way that “Martha Washington” lady seems to be looking down at the questionable looking ancestors. Then, moving up the tree, the left and the right sides are such an amusing contrast. Next, you have this sweet faced “Julie Andrews” daughter from that rough and ready set of parents. Finally, topping off the tree is the perfectly adorable, little, all-American, redheaded boy.
If only we would all realize and remember the truth of Ronald Reagan’s statement about freedom and how quickly it can be lost.
I am following your blog.
:) Hope
My dear Mrs. Smith - this is a brilliant post and I simply must share it to my facebook page!!! What an inspiring slice of Americana. I am quite a Rockwell fan and you have chosen the paintings so well to go with the words. Thank you so much for such a blessing!
Joy!
Kathy
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