This past weekend was the 4th of July and since it fell on a Saturday, the public holiday was moved to Friday, which Zenith had off. Mom and Dad had everyone over to the lake Friday afternoon and evening for the fireworks on the lake. I love watching all the kids get together and play. It's fun watching them grow up together.
Independence Day is a pretty big holiday for the U.S. People feel a sense of pride in their country as they roll out the flags, wear red, white and blue, and hang patriotic banners in support of their country. This year however, another flag was especially "honored" by the nation. A flag baring the symbol God gave us after the greatest chastisement almost wiped mankind off the face of the earth because of its attachment to sins of the flesh; a symbol promising us He would never chastise the world by water again. The flag baring that sacred symbol is now waved in mockery back in the face of God, representing one of the most vile sins that cries out to God for vengeance.
Not long before the day that we are supposed to celebrate "freedom" nationwide, the leaders in our country made same-sex marriage legal in all states. Though the sin of sodomy is nothing new, we have never had it nationally approved by the people we should be looking up to and be able to follow. This supposed new "freedom" is not a freedom at all, but a redefining of something so sacred that has been between a man and a woman since the beginning of time; the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. They can't and never will be able to really redefine it since it is held by Holy Mother the Church and Sacred Scriptures as being between man and woman (Leviticus 18:22, Matthew 19:4-5), but the confusion this has already set off, even among Catholics is crippling and destroying the already weak idea of the family.
When something so against nature is set forth to be called "normal," the line between right and wrong blurs and slowly anything becomes permissible. Soon (already we're seeing it as shown here) we will be seeing the consequences for us as Christian Soldiers, upholding our beliefs and standing strongly by them. We've already seen how Obamacare has forced businesses to provide employees with healthcare which give out birth control and abortions like it's candy and we'll soon see the day when "religious freedom" follows healthcare out the door and we will be forced into accepting this new definition of marriage under penalty of law. Rainbow flag baring protesters will be followed by lawsuits, lawsuits will turn into new restrictions in our practice of speech and religion, and before we know it, our beloved Church will taste the pains of persecution once more, whether from the inside or out.
So how do we deal with "patriotism" and "pride" for our country during these holidays when so many terrible things are coming about by our own leaders? How else can one answer that other than pray, pray, pray! How many times has Our Lady asked us to pray and do penance for sinners worldwide? Yes, we are disgusted by what's going on. We would be wrong not to be. But that disgust should move us to our knees, clutching the rosary and begging Our Lord to have mercy on this country and the poor souls lost in the confusion. Through the intercession of Our Lady and the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart, I believe Our Lord will shower down the graces needed to convert those poor sinners and restore order to a very broken world and Church; but this won't happen until our knees are calloused from kneeling, our lips have repeatedly formed the words of the rosary, and our hearts have been moved with humility and a true sacrificial spirit. That is how we, as citizens of a country that has gone astray, practice patriotism. That we care enough about it and the souls in it to pray and do penance for its conversion.
It was difficult to look at our flag and feel any sense of pride since I'm so saddened by how far we've fallen. However, instead of waving the flag around saying, "I'm proud to be American, God bless America" when it clearly doesn't deserve it since God would not bestow His favor on something so sinful, we can bow our heads when we see the flag and offer a prayer to God asking, "God have mercy on America and guide us back to Him." In our sadness and disgust, let us never forget how much, now more than ever, our prayers and sacrifices are needed.
Having said all that, I will continue on to our weekend at the lake and of course pictures! We all went over Friday afternoon and enjoyed fireworks in the evening (the littlest ones tucked away in bed), and then Zenith and I started Saturday out by going to First Saturday Mass, (very appropriate considering the day and recent events) and headed back to the lake.
Cookouts just aren't complete without a smoke...well I certainly could do without. :P
Can't do fireworks without a campfire!
And what's a 4th of July without sparklers?
Fun game of croquet
Sunday Zenith and I went back to the lake and tried to get the little guy in for a swim...he was not having it! One toe in the water was enough for him.
Mom and Dad did a great job hosting everyone for the weekend and all enjoyed getting together and enjoying good company.
Well, William should be getting up from his nap soon and a load of laundry is still waiting to be folded so I must be off.
Not long until the weekend again! :)
~Lindsay
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