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Reflections
What we in America have today . . . |
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Sacrifice
by Tom Woodard
What we in America have today, in the way of material blessings, is mind-boggling, if we'll only stop to think about it! The poor in America live like kings in the eyes of tens of millions of less fortunate souls in other parts of the world. But our material blessings have spoiled us, like unruly children. We whine, moan, and complain, and we blame "them" for everything, taking none of the responsibility upon ourselves. We've grown fat, greedy and insensitive. But it has not always been this way. The generations who came before us made great sacrifices to get us to where we are today. We inherited all of the great blessings we enjoy in the present age. Inherited wealth is oft-times unappreciated wealth, whether it be the wealth of individuals or the wealth of a nation. Both individually and as a collective people we do not appreciate all that has been showered down upon us. Now we are facing hard times ahead. The present recession may only be the tip of the iceberg. The time for Sacrifice has returned. We need a new mind-set, a mind-set of placing the common good above our own, of making constructive changes in our lifestyles which will help the whole of our Nation and the world, such as driving more fuel-efficient vehicles, purchasing items which are more eco-friendly, recycling plastics, paper, glass and aluminum, turning up the thermostat, and being more frugal with our money. I am not going to go into detail here. You know already many, if not all, of the things you and I need to be doing.
But knowing and doing are worlds apart. We must stop wringing our hands - or worse, not thinking at all - and put into action the things we know are necessary or advisable. It is once again time for real Sacrifice in our Country. Are we capable of "stepping up to the plate" and getting done the job which confronts us? A simple "yes" answer is not enough. Words are meaningless. We must go into action like our fathers and grandfathers did when confronted with the world menace of Nazi Germany and Facist Japan. The threats we face today are just as menacing and destructive as those they faced then, if not more so. Are we going to prove ourselves worthy of being called another "Greatest Generation", as they were, by our actions and sacrifices? Will we rise up with renewed courage, a renewed sense of duty, and a renewal of our faith in God? Will we rise to the challenges that face us? Will we prove ourselves capable of making selfless sacrifices? I pray to the Lord that we will. Copyright May 22nd, 2008, by Tom Woodard
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