July, 2026 – God (Please) Bless America
I love the Patriotic Song, “God Bless America”! Written by Irving Berlin in 1918 during World War I, he revised it in 1938 leading up to World War II. The words are as follows:
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home.
I grew up in a patriotic extended family in a town a little more than mid-way up through the State of Maine, but about as far East as you could go. Actually, the full name of the town was Codyville Plantation, but it was de-organized in 2019 – and today, it is a township. It’s where I grew up – in the woods with a population of perhaps sixty people! It was the home of the maternal side of my family.
The next town to it was Topsfield and as far as I know was founded by a man from Topsfield, MA. It was settled in 1832 and incorporated in 1838 – and was the home of the paternal side of my family. Talk about being a patriotic family, one of my aunts decided to throw a party for the whole town on its Sesquicentennial Anniversary (150th anniversary)!! This was one of the proudest and most patriotic moments of my life. Just picture this – she had asked me to sing the National Anthem (a capella) on the ‘green’ while my uncle hoisted a flag that had been raised over the Capitol in Washington D.C. for our family. It gets even better! My amazing Aunt Avis had invited government/political dignitaries from our State to attend – and they did.
One of my sons mentioned to me that he had never ‘gotten it’ – what it was to be patriotic. Of course he hadn’t. He had no parent who had fought for our country. His grandfather having served in WWII had passed away when he was only six years old. But after seeing/witnessing the deep love for the America on that one ever so special day, in the little town of Topsfield, Maine, he ‘got it’.
As we celebrate the 250th birthday of this great country, the United States of America, this month, I am just bubbling with excitement – knowing what millions have had to go through to achieve the freedoms we are so blessed to experience today. If one has traveled a bit, or has lived outside our country, it is only then the freedoms, the opportunities, the beauty of ‘America, the Beautiful’ one will ever understand. Does it mean that we agree with everything that America does? No. Thus, the title of this article. So, as we deserve it, ‘God – Please Bless America’ – this land that I love . . .
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” I Timothy 2:1,2