I tend to forget the high price that my freedom has required throughout history. As I write, there are men and women dying around the world, preserving this freedom. In all its imperfectness, I still believe that I live in the best country in the world. Yesterday we sang a couple patriotic songs in church. I don't remember ever reading the 3rd verse of "America the Beautiful". It says:
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.
I thank God for each life that has had a liberating influence in our world. I thank Him even more for the freedom His Son has given us through loving mercy more than life.