Forget not His benefits

It's July 5th. The celebrations are over, most of us are back to work and apple-pie American patriotism flares up only sporadically, along with a few leftover fireworks.

But 235 years ago, the battle for freedom was far from over. In fact, it had just begun. Soon after the adoption of the Declaration, the newborn country struggled to survive. The War for Independence perhaps met its darkest days in Virginia at Valley Forge, where Washington lost thousands of troops from defeat, cold, starvation and desertion.

Today, Virginia is facing a different set of hardships. With high unemployment, economic struggles, 17.6 abortions per 1,000 women, and widespread support for gay marriage and adoption ('Polling results,' 6/29), we've got a long way to go.

But amid all the bad news, there's still quite a bit to be thankful for. At least founding father John Adams thought so. "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this declaration and support and defend these States," he wrote to his wife Abigail soon after the Continental Congress declared the colonies' separation from Britain. "Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and glory."

We're not fighting physically for our freedom like Adams and his fellow patriots. Instead, our war is both political and spiritual. It's easy to be discouraged when it seems surrender is inevitable and forget to look for the rays of light and glory.

In Psalm 103, David exhorts the people of Israel to bless the Lord and "forget not all His benefits." As Americans and Virginians, we still have the freedom to worship and assemble, to speak out about political issues and to live without fear of government persecution. These are the rights our Founders-- many of them from Virginia-- pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to defend 235 years ago.

So this July 5th, and every other day of the year, let's not forget their sacrifice and the freedoms we take for granted.

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