 Olivia had an assignment for school which was to write a paper about being the American flag or the Star Spangled Banner. She chose the flag. Olivia has a fondness for poems and decided she wanted to write a poem. I thought it was a great idea and so she wrote her first poem. Here is her poem.
I am the American flag I waive high in the breeze. In the war of 1812 I did not freeze. With honor, freedom, and loyalty we won the victory. Still in God we trust we will make history. When they looked at me with awestruck eyes and willing hearts they sacrificed their lives. If you are distraught fight for me and liberty. By Olivia Brown To my knowledge, I have never written a poem before. I have never enjoyed writing before let alone thinking that I would attempt to write a poem. Recently I have grown fond of writing but Olivia was truly an inspiration with this poem idea. I decided, with her permission, to add to what she wrote and when I look at the work, though it is amateur writing, I see the inspiration of the almighty in it for I would have never thought this could come from a nine year old nor myself. We have been studying American history this year and it is so touching to read about the great men and women who sacrificed so much. My faith melted with a bit of history is the amalgam before you. Here is my version. The Red, White, and Blue I am the American flag I waive high in the breeze In the war of 1812 I did not freeze. With honor, freedom, and loyalty we won the victory. Still in God we trust we will make history. When they looked at me with awestruck eyes and willing hearts they sacrificed their lives. When the antagonist rises upon our shores and freedom no longer soars. Do not be distraught I say, look up and you will see, a wave I will give to thee. Stand tall, gaze at me for the red, white, and blue still stands for liberty. Though that man of sin tries to tear me down know that he can not take our crown. Though I stand alone I will not falter for freedom will not be set on the alter. You see my colors stand for more than liberty they stand for a man who died on a tree. The dark chains of slavery hides in sin you see. So this man Christ Jesus set us free by breaking the shackles of misery. Manifested in a character of purist white, full of glory so that we too may share in His story. Blue represents the law He kept conquering till He wept. Not only tears dropped from His face it was red blood that He shed for this race. I am the American flag with thirteen stripes you see so when you look up at me remember that freedom is never free. It's paid not with money and gold for they grow cold. It is the sweat, blood, and tears that freedom requires standing bold when others retire. Truth and freedom the mystery of iniquity will try to take but with the Holy Ghost we will not quake. Stand tall and remember me I stand for liberty. By Olivia and Renie Brown
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 My daughter is reading a book about Albert Einstein. As she was sharing with me some of the aspects she found interesting I was touched by one of his quotes. "It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it." Einstein said this in reaction to comments about his mismatched clothes and wild hair. How true this statement is today. I contemplated for days on the foresight of this statement. Look at the degradation of our food. Look at the time and money that is invested on the packaging in order to make the garbage that is being sold look appealing. Not only our food but the things that we put on our bodies and hair. I am guilty of buying perfumes, cleaners, lotions, hairsprays, etc. packed with chemicals that are not only harmful for me but for my family as well. I ask myself why? Because I want to look a certain way. Because I want to smell a certain way. So that I can use a little less elbow grease when cleaning my tub. Is it worth it? Right now the cost to me is nothing, myself and my family are relatively healthy and living a good life. I am not reaping the effects of my actions right now. The question I ask myself is, "how long until I do?" A family that I am acquainted with lost their 14 year old son in 2013. His story is a sad case of doctors forcing his parents to undergo chemotherapy or he would be taken from them and given it anyways. You can read about their story at: http://www.swiftrunnerministries.com/about-us.php Talk about false packaging. Here we have the doctors forcing the parents to give their child a cocktail of deadly chemicals while packaging it in the light that it "might" save their son. But instead it only caused him misery and pain for the remainder of his short life; even to the point he was vomiting up pieces of his own stomach. Now who was negligent here? Who was looking out for the best interest of the child? Surely not the doctors in this situation with their god complex. This is not the only situation either: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/connecticut-girl-17-fighting-refuse-chemo-article-1.2067278
Einstein really hit on something here long ago. Throughout time we have always looked at man and judged the packaging. My opinion is that we have taken it a step further in our present time and shut off our reason and common sense and allowed others to package information for us. Deceit is packaged in a nice box with a bow and sold as truth. Malignity is wrapped in bright colors and sold with the name of "life" on it. Whether you are a God fearing individual or not it is a common understanding that God does not look on the outward appearance (or packaging) but looks at the heart, 1 Samuel 16:7. Clearly revealing that what is on the inside is what matters most. I not only challenge you but I challenge myself to start looking on the inside of the packaging to find out what really is in what is being advertised. Whether it be food, body products, medicines, or religion. I know one item that has stood the test of time. An item that is not packaged to sell for the outside is black and the label has only two words. An item that may appear as an unattractive box but is filled with precious jewels. Jewels that lead to life not only physically but life of the mind and heart. I know an item that before it was even finished being packaged was sought for by man and they laid their life down for it and to preserve it. It is called, "Holy Bible". The packaging is simple but the truths are deep. Blessings and Peace, Renie |
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