FOUNDER'S FRIDAY--A CAPABLE SEAMSTRESS

I felt it appropriate this week to highlight Betsy Ross and the American flag on Founder's Friday since I was showing off my own needlework on a recent post. As well as that, I have heard bits of news lately concerning something that appears to be a distaste on the part of some for our flag. I haven't been able to listen long enough to make much comment on that, for I wouldn't have my facts straight, but this is nothing new. This kind of nonsense seems to occur every once in a while. I remember other incidents of flag burning and so on when I was younger. It seems every so often someone makes news for such despicable stuff. To behave in such a manner is an insult to those who died to make us free, rallying under the symbol of our flag. I remember returning to the United States after my first trip abroad and I was never so glad to see American soil as I was that day. I appreciated my country anew and felt like kissing the ground of the Detroit airport (I'd been to Detroit many times before and never felt like kissing the ground!) when I departed the plane. We truly do not realize how blessed we are to be living here until we see other places where life is not so easy. I enjoyed visiting other countries and honor and respect them and their citizens, but I LOVE my own country deeply and thank God for placing me here.



Betsy Ross was a Philadelphia upholsterer at the time of the Revolution. The legend of the first flag goes something like this: George Washington and two of the signers of the declaration visited her shop and commissioned her to make a flag from a sketch Washington showed her. She supposedly suggested changing the six pointed star to a five pointed star, showing the gentlemen how easy it would be to create a perfect star from a fabric folding technique. The flag we now have reflects Betsy's suggestion.



Apparently this story was not public until nearly 100 years later when a grandson of Betsy's told it. Whether or not it is accurate doesn't really matter all that much as far as I'm concerned. The lesson that I find in it all is that even a widow lady (Betsy was a widow) could conceivably use her God-given talents to do her country a great service. After all, someone made the first flag--someone who had to have needlework experience. What do we have in our hands to use for the sake of our country? Will we be patriots who look for ways to use our talents to promote the good of our nation?



If there ever was a time that all American patriots are needed to rally to the cause, it's now. Ask God what special thing you might be able to do to help return America to its roots of freedom and traditions of honoring God. The Lord will always use a willing vessel. I am encouraged by the Betsy Ross story. To think, a simple bit of needlework made such a huge impact on our nation for years and years! What can your special talent or gift contribute? Blessings, LORI

FOUNDER'S FRIDAY-TEA IN OUR HISTORY

I had such a nice little photo to post today to go along with my title, but our computer is acting up and because of a series of technical difficulties I was not able to post it--please bear with me.

I thought this little sentiment was appropriate for today as April 15 Tax Day Tea parties went on all over the country yesterday. I went to one myself and even got brave enough to take a turn at the microphone! (Not too difficult for me!)

Did you know that the original Boston Tea Party was "held" in response to what were considered acts of tyranny by Great Britain? After the British put a tax on tea, several patriots, dressed up in disguises, snuck aboard a ship in the harbor and dumped hundreds of crates of tea into the waters. The date was December 16, 1773. Their opposition to the tax was that the colonies had no representation in the government that taxed them. The feeling also prevailed that the new tax forced tea to be purchased from basically one source. Sound familiar?

But did you also know that another Tea party style event occurred in Edenton, North Carolina? A group of ladies signed a proclamation in 1774 in protest to the tea tax. It was rare and unusual for women of the time to be so openly political.

I don't know if anyone knows the names of all the patriots that participated in these "tea parties," but their contribution to the founding of the nation will never be forgotten. It's often the not-so-famous grass roots folks that make the difference in history.

In other cities of the colonies the tea "problem" was handled in different ways. In South Carolina the tea was unloaded but then stored in a damp place where it would be ruined for sale and consumption. In other harbors the ships of tea were never unloaded, but sent back to England with their cargo.

So, the next time you drink a cup of tea, remember what an important role it played in our history, although in a roundabout way. How about using your next cup of tea as an occasion to thank the Lord for your freedom and to pray for our country? Blessings, LORI

FOUNDER'S FRIDAY

Welcome to "FOUNDER'S FRIDAY," my new feature on my blog, "Filigree From Fields and Fences."

I hope you will enjoy this new weekly post as I devote my Friday blogs to the founding fathers (and mothers!) of America. I have been seeking what I may do to be a voice for freedom and righteousness in my country and have decided that this new feature is one small way I might accomplish that goal.

This week was a sobering one for me as you know if you read my last post. I turned 49 and what should be a remembered as a day of celebrating life is now to be remembered in another way. I believe March 23, 2010 is the day freedom in America as we have known it, died. My birthday is the day our president signed the health care bill that has now become the law of the land. This bill is poised to force Americans to buy a product they don't want, (amongst other atrocities) and that's not freedom. My heart is grieving for the America we are losing. That's the reason for the pictures I have posted today. I hope they reflect this thought. As well as that, I wanted to include a picture of a national cemetery, but oops! I deleted it and couldn't get it back. Will post that eventually, I suppose. I believe it symbolizes all I want to say today as well as honors the people that have fought for freedom throughout the years. This particular cemetery is where my Civil War grandfather is buried. He was a Union soldier who died while walking home from the war. We are almost 100% sure that he took sick at some point in the war and was hospitalized in what was then one of the largest Union hospitals nearby. He and so many like him in our wars have fought for ideals that are now being systematically thrown away by many of our leaders.


Did you know that on my birthday in 1775, Patrick Henry, a key American patriot, gave a speech that became famous? It was his "Give me liberty or give me death," speech. It was given in St. John's church in Richmond, Virginia--YES! in church!!! Imagine that?! Apparently back then it was permissible to speak out on public affairs in a church! As I understand it, the Second Virginia Convention was meeting there. My, how we've slipped! We Christians have allowed the secular world to shut us up and no one would consider using a church building for an official meeting of government now!

I am highlighting my birthday, which represents life to me, March 23, as the day that I believe freedom DIED but also remembering it as the day someone declared "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!" Interesting isn't it? Do you suppose anyone knew last Tuesday that we should have been celebrating liberty and reflecting and focusing on something that a famous American once said?

The Bible in Leviticus 25: 10, speaks of the year of Jubilee (well, for me I was one year short of 50!), a huge celebration of freedom, "And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants...." God is all about liberty and freedom as can be seen throughout the scriptures. A society where freedom reigns is pleasing to God because He is interested in the well-being of mankind. He longs for our complete freedom in Him and good days for His creation.

While at Mt. Rushmore a few years ago we took this picture of the presidents. It looks as if they're crying, doesn't it? It seemed really appropriate to me to post this just now. This week I hope you will remember Patrick Henry's words, "...I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" Blessings, LORI