“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32

 

STAR-SPANGLED BLOOD

Hearts bleed

the Land of the Free

Patriotism

for the old

don’t care attitude

of the young.

 

Fireworks awe

while patriotic songs

their words

mere words

lines of poetic

emptiness.

 

Star-Spangled banners

fly for the cause

freedom – we cannot hold –

but the stars and stripes

still fly for those

who buried dreams alive.

 

Patriots still

honor their country – America

land of the free, home of the brave –

hands and hats over hearts

singing loudly, proudly

anthems

above the fray.

 

Some still

shed tears

we ask for you

to do the same

for your Country

God bless

the U.S.A.

 

~Marcell Warner Bridges

©4 July 2015

 

 

John W. Bridges was a Ship’s Cook 2nd Class (SC2c) Petty Officer on the LST282 in World War II. On the evening of August 14, 1944, a missile struck the ship, and it went down.

 

I have been told that my father-in-law swam to shore. I don’t know much of what happened after that or how he was rescued, I just know that he made it out alive and back home to his sweetheart, Nellie Bridges.

 

They were married in 1946. John passed away in January, 2012.

 

I come from long line of military men. My grandfather was in the Army, my father was in the Air Force. Our nephew is in the Marines.

I grew up a proud American. I love the Star-Spangled Banner, all the patriotic songs, I love living here and I love the freedoms I have.

 

God meant for us to be free. Free from sin and guilt. Free from condemnation. Free from the hardships and heartaches of this life. But unfortunately, when Eve made the decision to believe Satan’s lie over God’s truth, sin entered into the world, and we are no longer free but slaves (Genesis 3:1-24).

 

How do we become free? Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

 

The truth he is referring to is salvation. When we believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he was buried, then rose from the grave to conquer sin and death, and we believe this in our heart through confession of our mouths, we will be saved. (John 3:16; Romans 10:9,10)

 

We must be born again to enter into heaven (John 3:1-21). Just as our freedoms were bought with the price of individuals willing to lay down their lives for their country, our freedom in Christ was bought with the price of Jesus dying on a cross to save us from our sins and set us free into liberty with him.

 

Our freedoms here in America are wonderful. We have much to be thankful for. But if we are not free in Christ through salvation, all of our freedoms in this life will be vain.

 

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior (but would like to), I would love to talk with you. You can contact me through the contact area on my website.

 

From My Heart to Yours,

Marcie 🙂