Every Spring is busy due to this sport. But, with 3 of our boys playing this year, it was the busiest we've ever experienced. It was a good season though. All 3 boys improved in their skills, did well, and most importantly, shared their faith with their teammates. Each of our boys were a consistent example of Christ's love and reflected Him, even in the midst of playing a game.
As hectic and frazzled as I felt getting to the games some days, there was always a moment of peace to be had.
At the beginning of every game, the announcer gets on and asks everyone to please rise for the playing of our National Anthem. Everyone does rise, and stops.... everything stops. Whether there are games getting ready to start on every field (t-ball, 7/8's, minor league, senior league), a couple of them, or only 1... everything and everyone stops what they're doing, and turns to salute the flag.
This is my moment to pray for our country. I pray for our leaders, both current and future. I use this time to thank God for the freedom we have, and pray for it to continue. While I'm proud of the great country we live in, I'm more thankful to God for allowing me to live in it. He is the One who causes the leaders to rise and fall, sometimes taking nations with them as they do.
Our National Anthem was taken from a poem, originally written in 1814, by Francis Scott Key. He pinned 4 verses to this poem. We sing the 1st, but I love the 4th verse, and thought it may interest you....
"O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
We just talked about this poem last week at a homeschool conf. Too funny.
ReplyDelete((HUGS)) to you
Kelly