Have you ever lived outside the United States of America? Have you had to deal with the hassles that citizens of less fortunate countries must contend with every day? Have you experienced life in a nation where the commodities we have available here are so much harder to come by?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, perhaps you served in the military or as a missionary in a 3rd world, impoverished, or war-stricken country. Or, maybe you decided to spend a little time abroad in a land that offered certain fascinating, historical wonders we don’t have here in the U.S. Maybe you just wanted to see what other parts of the world have to offer.
If you answered no to the questions in the first paragraph, then you most likely do not appreciate our country as much as those of us who have been away for enough time to recognize how good we really have it here. I can’t imagine how our military men and women must feel when they return home from war in foreign lands, and they hear people complain about the things we don’t have enough of, or how bad things are here.
I spent two and a half years in Italy, and experienced first-hand what it’s like to live in a country ruled by socialistic laws. How about this: a salary of $600 a month for an executive assistant is considered a good wage. Have a spouse who dies? Guess what? An unthinkable amount of the inheritance is taken away by the government. Need a procedure such as an endoscopy, colonoscopy, etc? You’re going to have to wait six months, so if you have cancer, bye-bye. Need to see your neurologist or cardiologist? Again, there’s a six month wait. Oh, and I won't mention the gas prices.
I haven’t even covered a small fraction of what it means to “have less” in a country other than this great nation. I came running back home as soon as I had the chance, and will never look back. Yes, some countries have a lot to offer, but their freedoms don’t compare.
Our nation has fallen into a sad status of grave degeneracy, and we are in danger of succumbing to turmoil much worse than what we’ve experienced over the last several years. What I will say, though, is that no matter who is elected tomorrow, I will still be grateful every day for what I have as a citizen of the U.S. If the person I vote for doesn’t win, sure, I’ll probably feel nauseated for a little while. But in the end, I’ll come back to the same conclusion:
I LOVE THE U.S.A.!
[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
