forever in peace may you wave

Today at church a law enforcement officer was asked to speak to us about his feelings on obeying the laws of the land and how they relate to us spiritually.

He wrote
*life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness*
on the chalkboard
and began by telling us that the protection of these things was the reason for everything that he does in his work
and how it is [or should be] the purpose of government.

***

This Independence Day has been different for me.
I have been grateful for freedom in a new way.
For the
life
liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
that has come to my little girl.



She is gaining her own independence.
She has become more aware of everything around her.
Her life has become more full.
Her muscles are getting stronger.
She is rolling around everywhere [and fast too!]
and so has more freedom to get the things she wants
to pursue her own little happinesses
like yogurt cups,
glitter balls
and Karen Katz books.
She has learned a little sign language.
The first thing she does every morning [before we even get her out of bed] is exercise this new
freedom of speech
to inform us
that she wants
not breakfast
but books.



She is very persistent.
She makes her sign for books all day long,
no matter where we are or what we are doing
[even on an evening stroll].
My momentary exasperation melts away with the hope that it will be her persistence that will bring her more freedom,
to help her to keep trying
to continue her pursuit of happiness
and find it
on her own
whether it be reading books for hours or crawling across the floor or eating without help
and to never give up on it.

***



I am grateful for government who has provided ways
for our family
and especially for Janie
to be able to enjoy
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
more fully
with the help of the Early Intervention program
and her preschool program
[where she always keeps her eye the Grand Old Flag that flies out front].
Programs that have not only helped her
but have enabled her parents to help her
to pursue and enjoy
new found
freedom
even if it's just in our own
home of the brave
[someday she won't even be afraid of the vacuum anymore, I just know it.]
I have so much gratitude for these programs that are created to help those little ones who are born with challenges,
as well as their families,
to also enjoy
precious
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
physically,
emotionally,
mentally,
spiritually.
I am so grateful for those who hold these truths to be self evident,
that all men are created equal,
even those that may never have the *freedom* of speech to repeat those words.