On June 6, 1944, 82 years ago, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne which was formed out of Detroit, got into their gliders and descended upon Normandy in what was to become known as D-Day and the start of the liberation of Europe. My dad was in the second wave. He saw the paratrooper in the glider next to him get hit. Later that year, in December 1944, the 82nd Airborne again played a vital role in halting the German offensive in the Battle of the Bulge.

Because he knew French, Arabic and English equally well, he went on to serve in the OS, which, at the time, was the counterintelligence division of the army. When he came home, he took advantage of the GI bill, and was the first in his family to attend college. This changed his life forever. He grew up on the streets of Detroit, and was a prime candidate to be swept up into a gang. But then the Great Depression hit. So my grandfather stayed here and sent the family back to Lebanon. This is where he learned French, and so, when the war came along, he didn’t even realize that being trilingual was going to be an advantage for him. But it was the GI Bill which gave him the means to improve his life.

This is just one story of many, perhaps not common, but certainly not uncommon. The generation of which I speak did not like to talk about the war, let alone how they felt about it. But you still got a strong sense of the fierce duty they felt towards their country, the honor of having worn the uniform, and humility of having survived when so many did not.

As Americans, we have so much to be thankful for. We live in a nation characterized by vast opportunities, many freedoms, and the epic acts of courage throughout our history. Celebrating our country’s blessings with genuine gratitude honors the God Who provides all these blessings.

Our Pastor shared his experience of returning home after a trip abroad, which touched a soft part of my heart. Many people who have had the experience of returning to this country after visiting another are often overwhelmed by emotions. When my plane touched down on American soil after trips attending to my stepmother, I usually cried. One time my flight took off on July 4th, and as we left Philadelphia they were just starting fireworks, but when we flew over New York the fireworks were in full swing and that was the one and only time in my life I saw fireworks from above.

There just is no place like home! If you know me, you know I get weepy when I feel the touch of Jesus. The only other thing that makes me like that is my love for this country.

I recently took a trip to Florida. On the way down I saw three super sized American flags lit up from below in the darkness, waving in the breeze. At the first I felt compelled to sing America the Beautiful. At the second it was the Star Spangled Banner, and at the third, I burst forth with Our Country ’Tis of Thee. I am unable to listen to a good rendition of our National Anthem without feeling my eyes start to leak. And this is all okay, because I am not ashamed of loving God and I am not ashamed of loving my country.

But………. as Christians…….. we would be wise to guard our hearts against the trap of “American pride” when it manifests as a sense of national superiority. We are a great country, but we are not superior.

In Proverbs, chapter 16 verse 18 warns us : “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”. When we boast that our prosperity is solely the result of our own hands, then we are forgetting that every good gift comes from above, and our pride blinds us. We should be diligent to pray for our government leaders, (no matter who they are) and to pray for our nation.

Patriotism is a beautiful expression of loving our local communities and loving our neighbors. But, just as Pastor reminded us, we must remember that national boundaries do not dictate our spiritual standing before God.

Our primary identity is found in being part of God’s Holy Nation. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are a chosen generation, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that we should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. And again, in Philippians 3:20 it says “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there”

When we mix our faith in God with our patriotism for our country, our prayer should be one of humility and stewardship. In Matthew 6:33 we are to seek God’s kingdom FIRST and then to love and pray for our country,

Father God,

We thank You for the blessings and freedoms we enjoy in America. Help us to walk in humility, recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from You. Keep our hearts from arrogance and selfish pride. May our lives be a reflection of Your Love, and help us to remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Let’s examine our hearts with two questions:

1. Does our love for America stem from an attitude of gratitude and service? or does our love for America come from a belief that our nation is inherently superior to others?

2. Are we actively investing in God’s eternal kingdom here on earth?