Lee Greenwood recorded a song about thirty years ago called “God Bless the USA” and it became a best selling hit song. Over the years as I’ve listened to the song, applied it to issues of the day, my life, my country and situations that have risen during the time it’s been popular (including  the events of 9-11) I realize it isn’t so much the words in the song, although they’re pragmatic and fraught with meaning, as it is the feeling that comes as I sing the words or hum the music. That sense of unity that comes from knowing that not only am I praying for God’s blessing over our country and our soldiers, but there are thousands, maybe millions more praying for the same thing.

The song means more than a simply song of patriotic duty, this song is a prayer, an anthem of remembrance that brings the people of this nation together.  Not only does it bring us to our feet, but more importantly this song brings us to our knees at the feet of God, remembering the men and women who have fought to the death for our freedom and liberty. It brings us the knowledge that we are a free nation and we serve an amazing God.

And more importantly, this song unifies the people of this nation to a standard of living that goes beyond war time, beyond politics, beyond national crisis to the heart of the founding fathers and the piece of paper we call the United States Constitution, a document written on the understanding that we are a nation founded on the principles of God given rights and equality under the most fundamental gifts of the creator. Thank you Lord!

And… Thank you Lee Greenwood for a song that reminds us of the value of Gratitude.

His new book is out “Does God Still Bless the USA” —- You can get it here.