No greater love (dying for a greater cause)

I think many people today believe that being a Patriot, means paying your taxes, voting, waving a flag, and following your government leaders. Webster simply tells us that it is: “love for or devotion to one's country”.

I think “most” Americans have no problem with that statement. I can honestly say that I love this country and I am devoted to it. But, for me, more importantly, I have a love and devotion to God, first and foremost. Just as I believe many of our forefathers also did as it was their reverence for the Lord that led them to inaugurate the two most significant passages of our guidelines in the birth of this building this Nation.

“Liberty and Freedom”.

Two words that sum up everything that our forefathers knew we must stand for. They believed, with all their heart, that “liberty” is our Right, and that “Freedom” is our ability to exercise and pursue that Right.

This concept was instilled in them by the teachings of the Bible, that our forefather’s believed with all of their heart, and they fully relied on it. They used our Holy Bible as the moral compass in designing our Declarations of Independence and our Constitution. I sincerely believe these guys are the epitome of what a “Patriot” is, and have lived the purest forms of patriotism.

Mark Twain was quoted as saying…“Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let me label you as they may.”

You see, for me to not include God as part of my decision making on what is right and wrong would go against all my convictions. Standing up for my conservative values is the personification of what I know in my heart is right for this country.

I sometimes find it awkward to use the word “Patriot” in the same breath that was intended for our forefathers. My life has been so easy. I have not had to sacrifice anything remotely close as did these guys. I want to believe that I am, somewhat patriotic, in a modern fashion of the word.

The question is, am I willing to die for such causes? I don’t think our country has sunk that low YET, but if a time ever comes where my families lives were to be in danger by the lack of principals which I believed is crucially needed to keep this country’s liberty and freedoms secure, I certainly do believe that I would arise for such an occasion.

The Bibles tells us that there is no greater love, for one to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. I most certainly believe I would, with out a doubt, lay down my life to ensure those liberties and freedoms.

I once heard a quote and it went like this:

“To me, patriotism means dedication to the principles on which the country was founded and a willingness to stand firm and fight for these principles regardless of what the government says or does”

and of course Ronald Reagan sums up my hub with these wise words:

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

I sometimes think too many of us today have forgotten or simply not ever taken to heart of just how many real Patriots have died for us. Starting with those 55 signers of our Declarations of Independence, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI, WWII and the conflicts we faced since.

Just stop and think of the hundreds of thousand, men and women who were devoted to our our Country. The American citizens who stood up with conviction, to make a difference, for the betterment of this nation.

We have so many people today, who have no clue or understanding as to that devoutness that enables you to put away selfish needs and put themselves in the line of danger. To stand for a cause and a reason other than themselves.

We all need to reflect, and come to a realization that a day may come when it will be our turn to be a Patriot. For I think there is no greater love, than to die for a greater cause.