Courage

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 3:20

Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.  Charles Martin

It’s interesting how we as people hardly ever think we can make  a difference in our life, the lives of others, our country, our world or even our family.  We seem to think that since we are just one person, that our opinion or our actions can’t make a difference.  I’m so thankful that others throughout history didn’t hold that opinion.  They were courageous, and they believed that with God’s help, they could stand up for their freedom and their country.  Such a man was Francis Scott Key.

Francis Scott Key was a Georgetown attorney and a devout Christian who was heavily involved in politics.  In September of 1814, he embarked on a mission at the request of the President of the United States.  His task was to seek the release of a prominent physician who had been taken captive by British forces during the battle of Baltimore Harbor.  During this mission, Francis was detained by the enemy forces and forced to watch the twenty five hour bombardment of the Eastern seaboard.

When it became clear that the American forces had withstood the attack, he penned the words to the Star Spangled Banner on the back of an envelope.  We all know the words to the first stanza, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard the last stanza.  It shows the witness of a Christian man in the aftermath of a dangerous situation.

Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land                                            Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.                                                 Then conquer we must when our cause is just                                                                       And this be our motto, ‘In God we Trust’.                                                                        And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave                                                          O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The next morning, Francis Scott Key was released and formerly transcribed the song.

America has withstood wars, hatred, and division over the many years since this song was written.  Now, more than ever before, we need patriotic individuals who will stand for our country and our God.  We never need to underestimate the things one person can accomplish with courage and God.

Happy Birthday, America!