The Lighthouse

"Anxiously you ask, 'Is there a way to safety? Can someone guide me? Is there an escape from threatened destruction?' The answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you: Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, 

'This way to safety; this way to home.”
―Thomas S. Monson

Lighthouses mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, safe entries to harbors, and can also assist in aerial navigation. The lighthouse calls from the shoreline, guiding people through the storms, showing them safety is not far off. It's lit by a tiny light bulb, but it shines for miles due to the way the mirrors reflect the light. It has saved many sailors from the stormy seas, bringing them in safely. They kept their eye on the light, knowing the shoreline was close.
Why is it we resist so strongly, though? Why do we turn away from the light when the seas of life get rough? People are strong and independent. We try to find our own way. God doesn't want us to drown in the stormy seas. He wants to lead us to safety. He has provided a way for us to navigate those stormy seas, all we have to do is look for the light and follow it to the safety of the shore.
Also, we are called to be that light. We are to tell others how to get to safety. With your little light, He can reflect His love throughout the world. He takes us through many situations and circumstances, so we can help guide others through the stormy seas to safety. He can use you wherever you are, whatever your past, and sends you to help those of His who are 'lost at sea' and are in need of your words and experience.
God has brought me through a myriad of circumstances. I have been able to take the lessons learned, and help others navigate through the storms of life. He can use you. He can take your little light and shine it brightly if you are willing.

In Matthew 5:14-16, says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Freedom Isn't Free

'Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.'

- Dwight D. Eisenhower 

The opening shots of the American Revolution were fired in the center of Lexington, Massachusetts on the morning of April 19, 1775. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress. On December 7, 1941, we remember the catastrophic tragedy that launched the United States into WWII. On September 11, 2001, another attack on our soil propelled us into 'Desert Shield' and 'Desert Storm'.

Freedom is defined as: the power to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restraints. Some synonyms of freedom are: liberty, independence, opportunity, privilege, and unrestrained.

Now that I have given you a history and vocabulary lesson, please allow me a moment to tell you what it means to me. Growing up in a military family, it meant knowing the Star Spangled Banner word for word. It meant seeing the faces and knowing many who signed up to make the ultimate sacrifices for this country. It meant knowing the Pledge of Allegiance and saying it in school before classes began, remembering those faces. It means digging into history, in hopes of not repeating past mistakes of our ancestors...as well as discovering why our ancestors began the fight for freedom and what they did right. People came and still come from all over the world to discover the American Dream for themselves, while there are some Americans who take the freedoms this country has for granted.

This brings to mind a couple of questions. What would our forefathers say to the American people if they were to come forward in time? Would they be proud of what America has come to stand for over the years or would it anger them to see how much our freedoms have been compromised under the guise of 'political correctness'? What kind of America are we leaving for the next generation? Will future generations look back and be proud of what the Americans of this generation did for the world?

John 15:13 says, 'There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.' Or in this case for one's country.

True freedom demands sacrifice. Despite what this 'instant gratification' generation says, in order to truly appreciate something, it is often accompanied by long-term endeavors. The men and women of our military - past, present, and future - have either been willing, or have made the ultimate sacrifice. My husband is one of those. He is a 24 1/2 year Navy Veteran. In his career, he did three tours in Iraq as a medic. In his years, he saw many things that still plague his nightmares. During that time, he made many friends...and lost many friends. While these men and women were willing to make the sacrifice the loss of these lives effect many . 

Have you counted the cost of the freedoms you enjoy every day here in the United States? Have you taken a hard look at yourself and asked yourself if you would be willing to stand up for the freedoms that our forefathers fought and many since have died for?

Freedom is not free...