A New Citizen!!!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-4)

It was a glorious day for the DeMelo household!

Daniel went for his citizenship test this morning and passed it with flying colors. We were pleasantly surprised when they asked us to return at 2:30 for the swearing-in ceremony. I think it is still sinking in that this chapter in our lives is finally over. Thank you, thank you for any part that you played.

There were 94 new citizens today in Atlanta. The official said they swear in about 100 every business day—and that’s just in Atlanta. I think India wins the prize as the country who lost the most citizens today.

Seeing all those international faces reminded me of the years I volunteered in the Int’l Dept at First Baptist Atlanta. There’s a story in every face. And behind every face lies a soul in need of God. I wish I had the opportunity to listen to each one and point them to Him.

Parts of the ceremony were very moving. He read a quote from Ronald Reagan, one from Abraham Lincoln, and then we watched a video from President Bush talking about freedom and how great this country is. I admit that some tears fell from my eyes. Then they showed the Lee Greenwood video for the song, Proud to be an American. More tears. I was even moved to tears as we recited the Pledge of Allegiance. That never happened when I was a kid reciting it in school.

I guess I was thinking about all the attacks on our great country—from without and from within—and how some people treat freedom so frivolously. I think Americans need to be reminded what a blessed gift and sacrifice we have in America. And many people in this country need to understand what this country was founded upon—the need to be able to express love and worship to our Creator. This need was alive in the Mayflower as the Pilgrims braved the unknown sea in search of a free place to worship. And that spirit resides in the Founding documents, even in the Pledge. It’s a shame that there are some who want to trample upon the very guts, grit, and blood shed for this country’s freedom. And it’s astounding to me when on the one hand, we see people going through every kind of hardship imaginable to get into this country, to have a chance at a better life, to have a chance at freedom, to have a chance to carry a blue passport that says United States of America on it—while others stand back, shamelessly content to have our freedoms chiseled away one by one by corrupt people who want to tear us away from God and put us into slavery.

At the end of the day, it truly is a spiritual war being waged for the souls of mankind. May freedom reign and may God bless you and America.


Here is the Ronald Reagan quote, referenced above:
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.