God Bless Us Everyone

I am a little late doing this blog. I usually have it up and done by early Sunday morning, but my family is with me and I found myself strapped for time. My parents travelled 1200 miles to be with Michael, the kids and me. They try and make this drive every year. Every year, I patiently wait for their arrival. I miss my folks so much, now that we live so very far away.

My parents and I are diametrically opposed when it comes to politics and argue often about the correct course of action of our beloved country. The one thing we can agree on is we live in the most generous country on earth.

So, today's folks that we will pay tribute to are the middle Americans, who as George Baily put it,"do the working, the living and the dying in this town". It is the middle class that supports the country in their efforts to stay afloat as the best place to live, the protectors of freedom, and the community that takes care of their own. It is the middle class that do the dangerous jobs, be it police, firemen or factory workers, they lay their lives on the line for the job and for the people of this great nation.

I am a bonafide flag waver. I have been to enough foreign countries to know how lucky we are to have a place where we can believe what we want, say what we want and vote for whomever we please. I was raised in a small, factory town where the people of the town worked hard, played harder and loved deeply. My hometown was filled to the brim with middle class Americans, who were always the first to step up when they were needed. They were the ones who sacrificed for their families, their churches, their friends. I watched my entire childhood, as the adults lived the lives of generosity, charity and hard work. They lived by example, not having to lecture us on what was expected but, rather, quietly going about their business doing what was right and knowing that the pay off of their efforts was knowing the next generation would step up without even being asked. It was as it was. I honor the sacrifices I witnessed, by teaching my children to be charitable, generous with their time, talents and money when they can. I show them daily the right path to take in order to protect their family, their community and those who are unable to protect themselves. I live the life I was taught to live. I am a proud middle American.

It would be nearly impossible for us to honor every single middle class American, especially since most of us are middle Americans. So I will ask only this: Stop everyday this week and think a thought of gratitude for all that we have in this country. Even though we are currently in quite the pickle, we still have it better than any other country there is. Plus, we have each other. The strength of this country has never been about the politics or the leadership, but the people who run their lives everyday, defending and protecting the precious rights that our military lay down their lives for. Every morning, think for just a moment about all the folks going off to work to power plants, coal mines, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, office jobs, trucking jobs, grocery stores and post offices. Think about all the people that contribute to the strength of the fabric of the flag we wave everyday. The tapestry of our stars and stripes are made of the flesh and blood of the people who do the living and dying here in this country. I am in awe of the people who call themselves American. They are the ones who protect an idea of freedom with their every breath so we can live in the reality of it. I am blown away by the generosity of Americans who often live pay check to pay check and yet when needed during a crisis will give their only extra dollar for a good cause in order to help perfect strangers in need. It continues to amaze me every single day how kind people are to our most vulnerable populations.

We are Americans. We do it for no other reason than it is the right thing to do.