Don't ask me why, but God blessed our family with the time, money, and courage to take a real family vacation. WOW! Our first in 15 years of marriage. We drove over 1500 miles along the eastern coast on what we titled our "American Heritage Vacation." What a field trip for our homeschoolers! :)
Each of us gained a new respect for the freedoms we enjoy in America. Seeing the rows upon rows upon rows of gravestones at Arlington, then in Gettysburg made quite the impact.
How dare we stand by and let ANYONE burn our flag - especially on our own soil! Arlington is 300 acres of graves. Gettysburg - more than 30,000 graves, if I remember correctly. Each represents a soul that lived and breathed willing to lay his or her life down for our country. Some of the graves hold wives or children of the soldiers. Families ripped apart. Whether we agree with the "cause" of war or not, we MUST respect the willingness to fight to the death. And many, if not most, of the freedoms we enjoy today would not be had it not been for courageous soldiers standing strong and proud - dying strong and proud.
As we walked the sidewalks of Arlington after witnessing the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier, a horse drawn carriage pulled a flag-draped casket through the cemetery. A soldier from Iraq? A "lifer" retired who died of old age? A disabled Vietnam vet? We don't know, but what we do know is another life was laid to rest in that hallowed ground.
We ended our journey in awe. Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park. The amazing, breathtaking views - well, they just leave me speechless and full of wonder as to how anyone can say there's no God or that all that beauty came from some big bang or a single-cell amoeba. Get real.
"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." John 1:3 (NKJV)
I'm certainly far from a professional photographer, but the picture with this blog post is from Skyline Drive. Honestly, it just doesn't do the view justice, but look at that bright spot in the midst of those dark clouds... Isn't that just like God? "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:4-5 (NKJV)
You see, that's us!! You and I! We, because of Jesus, are a light in this dark world! The dark times in our lives - trouble (pay-cuts included!), persecution, fear, even death - can't comprehend the light of Jesus....
So, I ask you, Is God good or what?!?!?!
I have to say as a witness of His mighty hand - He IS good - ALL the time!
PS -- Thanks Aunt Betty! :)
1 comment:
Beautiful picture and , as always, an inspiring post. And yes, God is good 100% of the time, even though we can't see it about 95% of the time. Good thing when we got saved that God gave us faith to endure, good times and not so good times. So glad you got the chance to go on a vacation and it sounds like you guys had a fun time (with a little learning shoved in the middle!)
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