We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….

…And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

Two hundred thirty four years ago a band of brothers came together in the muggy summer heat of Philadelphia to stand up for the rights of a group of colonies in the face of the most powerful force in the world at the time — the British government.  Their courage to be willing to sacrifice their wealth, their liberty and their lives set our nation on a path to independence from England, but also planted the seeds in the American psyche that our cause, our purpose as a nation is for the establishment and protection of freedom in the world.  Courageous men and women have been standing up for independence and freedom from the hills of Concorde and Lexington, where the first shots of the  Revolutionary War were fired, all the way to the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq today.  As we all know, our freedom does not come without sacrifice. 

This month as we join together, a diverse, but united American people, let’s remember the young men and women sacrificing everything for us and the many professionals who put their lives on the line every day to make our communities safe.  Take a moment to thank someone in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Reserve, Firefighters, Police Officers, and Emergency Personnel.  And while you’re at it, thank yourself for all the times you have participated in democratic process that gives voice to our freedom.  Together we make this nation great.

And while we embrace that sacrifice, we also celebrate our liberty — a truly unique and glorious expression of human equality and unalienable rights of a free people.  Independence Day is a time of celebration — barbecue, parades, picnics, fairs, speeches, concerts, baseball and fireworks.  So let’s get out there and party!

Have a Happy and Safe Independence Day!

Sharon

As we move into May I want to take a moment to honor a group of dedicated, loving, giving, nurturing people — Moms.  None of us would be here without them! When we think of motherhood we often think of child birth.  However, as all you Moms out there already know, the work of a mother only begins with the birth of a child.  All across this planet mothers maintain homes (even when a structure called a “house” doesn’t exist), kiss hurts, listen to fears, thoughts and dreams, hold us in their arms even if we’re thousands of miles away, keep us in their prayers and raise us up with their love.

Of course, Mom’s are human.  Like anyone else they struggle and sometimes falter under whatever burden life may hold.  However, I think we can all learn from motherhood at its best.   A mother’s love:

Knows no bounds. Mom’s love us even when we’ve made mistakes or fail.  That primal connection of love between a mother and a child cannot be easily broken.

Is fierce. You can see the ferocity of motherhood in the natural world as a mother bird will fight to the death for her chicks.  Likewise human mothers have a ferocity of heart deep within that perseveres in the face of great hardship and protects to the very end.

Always hopes for the best. While we might not always agree with Mom’s desires, her intentions always lean to the good.  Imagine a world where each of us sincerely had only the best intentions in our relationships and interactions with others.

Listens to our hearts. Some people say Moms have eyes in the back of their heads!  Why?  Because that love comes from a deep, primal connection with her children.  She can hear not only the words in the present, but the context of those words in that child’s entire life.

Is Patient. Nine months is a long time to await a glorious coming out party!  Mother’s learn patience from the beginning with pregnancy and then as they experience the challenges as their child develops.

The Apostle Paul, in describing love, offered what I think is one of the best descriptions of the ideal of a Mother’s love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 (New International Version)

Whether you are a woman or a man, a mother or not, let’s take the month of May to do two important things.

1. Consider how each of us can bring the attributes of love into our daily living.  How will you be a more loving, caring person going forward?
2. Let’s give thanks for these wonderful, awesome ladies who have given us so much.

Have a great May filled with love,

Sharon McGee

Rejoice ~He is Risen!

Embrace Life & Celebrate Change

Jesus is risen from the grave!  The disciples of Jesus, from the moment they realized He was alive, entered a new season of life with opportunities and new challenges.

Like the early Christians, we sometimes find ourselves thrust by circumstances into a new season.  And also like the disciples, we may find it a frightening experience.  But changes are necessary to make way for new opportunities.

If Jesus did not die, we could not be forgiven.  If He did not rise again, we could not have new life.  If He did not ascend into Heaven, the Holy Spirit could not come.

This change brought new opportunities. In our lives, changes can be gradual or happen instantly. This season we celebrate the Risen Savior and how His resurrection changed the world forever.

Celebrate change!  As you face the twists and turns in life, stop resisting them.  In fact, embrace life through all its changes and embrace the new opportunities that follow.

May your heart be touched and your life be changed.

Jesus is Risen!  He is Risen indeed!

Wishing you a very Happy and Joyous Easter Season,

Sharon

Here comes February and with it, of course Valentine’s Day. What better time to talk about love. Ah, amore! We love to be loved, enjoying being in love, long to give love, struggle to find love, have broken hearts because of love, build lives around love, yearn to do what we love and sing songs, write novels and make movies about love. So the question this month is, in the words of the great Tina Turner, “What’s love got to do with it?”

Let’s start by defining what we mean by love. In the Christian tradition the Greek word agape refers to a selfless, altruistic, unconditional love. Joined with eros, a sexual, physical love, two people choose to love each other as they love themselves and to express that love emotionally, spiritually and physically. As many of us know through our own personal experience, agape, this love thing, is a messy business! Why messy? Here are just a few reasons that come to mind:

We focus on what the other needs without considering our own needs.

Maybe you’ve felt this way sometimes: you give and give and give, and no one ever gives back. Sometimes that dynamic happens when we’re in a very dysfunctional situation. But for today, let’s look at this from within ourselves. If I really cared about myself, would I continue to put myself in a situation where my mind, body and spirit were gradually being diminished? All of us have been there to some extent in our lives. And the root cause of our unhappiness? We don’t (or didn’t) really love who we are (or were)– yet. We see our darker side and our failings, without appreciating what we bring to the world. If I don’t love myself, I’ll have a very difficult time making space for someone else to love me. While many of us believe that love is something “out there” waiting for us (or at least that’s what the movies tell us), true love starts from within ourselves. You can only love another to the depth that you love yourself. This Valentine’s Day ~ make time to fall deeper in love with yourself and you will experience your love grow for others. To Thine Own Self Be True . . . . (more…)

When I think about the meaning of Christmas, I think about relationships. The Christmas story itself is about a relationship of a man and a woman and their son, a Father and His Son, and that Son’s relationship with all of us. “Unto us a Child is born.”

Through the years, in the Christian community, as well as the secular community, the season marks a time for families to gather together, to share expressions of their love for each other by spending time together, with gifts and to pause to ponder the power of peace on Earth.

In practical terms, how can you and I create the peace the Christmas season expresses? In the classic Christmas movies many of us must view to feel we’ve really embraced the season, we get some hints. “It’s a Wonderful Life” speaks to the power of family and community supporting each other through the difficult times. “White Christmas” celebrates the joy of giving and the sacrifices our veterans make, “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” reminds us that the season is not about the decorations and the presents, but a time to remember the meaning of Christmas — Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward All. And finally, the Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” in which the ghosts of past, present and future help a bitter Scrooge embrace the people in his life with love.

Life, as you know, never quite plays out like the movies. However, we can commit this Christmas season to manifest peace and goodwill to all in our lives. Here are a few ideas:

• Prepare Early ~ Don’t be a last minute shopper. Organize your list of gifts and celebrations and use each of them as an opportunity to share God’s love. I pray for you joy in abundance and laughter, for laughter and joy makes our spirits soar.

• Keep Christ at the Center ~ Don’t become overwhelmed by commercialism. Read one of the Gospels and think about what it means to have Christ in your life. I pray that you keep Christ in the season because Jesus is the reason for the season.

• Make Christmas a Family Time ~ Do preparations together, decorate the tree, string lights around the house, bake cookies and write cards together. Look for opportunities to laugh and enjoy. I pray for love for your families. Don’t keep your love a secret. Someone needs to hear and feel your love for them.

• Remember those in need ~ Give money through your local church or other charities. Do something for an elderly neighbor or for someone who can’t care for themselves. I pray for you compassion, for we cannot help others until we understand them, and we cannot understand them until we walk in their shoes.

• ReKindle your friendships and contacts ~ Who have you not connected with lately? Give them a call, drop them an email, invite them out for a cup of coffee, get out and make a personal impact today.

  I pray for you a heart so full of love that every day you must give some away to those whose paths you cross.

• Remember and support our troops ~ While we are enjoying a festive Christmas season, they are sacrificing their lives for us by defending our freedom. Please prepare packages and send them to our military overseas. I pray that you remember the great people in our military in our prayers and our service to them. Remember, freedom is not free!

• Forgiveness ~ Do you have a friendship that is strained? Did you injure a relationship with words or deeds? There is no better time for forgiveness than now. The first person that you ask for forgiveness for is yourself. Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves. I pray for you tears when you need them, for tears clear the eyes to see the stars and cleanse the soul to let the healing begin.

• Gather your family and attend a Christmas Worship Service ~ Church is still the best place to hear the message of the birth of our Savior. Reevaluate your commitment to serve Christ. There is no better response to Christmas than a renewed spirit. I pray for you unwavering faith, for faith shapes our morals and our destiny and draws us closer to God.

Those are a few suggested actions, but each of us needs to search our own hearts. I am confident that when you do, you will know the ways you will bring peace on earth and goodwill to all this Christmas season.

I wish you a very blessed and Merry Christmas!

Blessings in abundance,

Sharon McGee