Dear China Friends.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Independence Day celebrates the birthday of the United
States of America. It is commonly known
as the Fourth of July since this is the date in 1776 when the 13 colonies
declared its independence from Great Britain.
However, it was not until 1788 that the U.S. constitution was ratified to
make the colonies into one nation.
The preamble of the constitution states the guiding
principles which would govern the U.S.
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote
the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution of the United States of America.”
However, the early founding fathers realized that the
constitution by itself was not sufficient to guarantee domestic tranquility.
John Adams, the second U.S. president
declared: “We have no government armed
in power capable of contending in human passions unbridled by morality and
religion….Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of
any other” (1798).
Love changes the heart so that one
is willing to obey law. Owe no one anything, except to love each
other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the
commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall
not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in
this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a
neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8-10).
And where does such love come from? “God’s love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
Today, Independence Day is a midsummer festival. Many communities celebrate it with fireworks,
parades, family reunions, picnics and political speeches.
I really enjoyed my sister Ginger’s 60th wedding
anniversary. She really looks good after
recovering from cancer. I also got to
see my sister Becky as well as my daughter Becky and son Tom. It was great to have my daughter Carolyn
accompany me both ways on the trip.
Family means even more as you grow older. Then I also visited with other
relatives. I trust that all is going
well for you and your loved ones as well.
Your Friend,
Tom Atkinson
–by Tom Atkinson
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen