Over the passage
of time have you
ever lost an old
friend or loved
one due to
death, or
because the two
of you became
separated by a
great distance,
or maybe you
just drifted
apart as can
easily happen
when time brings
changes and your
lives take
different
directions as
life becomes
busier and the
years fly
quickly by—until
suddenly one day
you realize you
really ‘miss’
someone who was
once very close
and important to
you.
I find
myself having
that same
sentiment now
about my
country, the
United States of
America.
That is,
I have
sentimental
thoughts about
my country I
have known over
the last several
decades, until
recently.
Before
now, I always
felt the same
way about my
country as I did
my older
brothers—they
were always
there to defend
and protect me
against all
kinds of dangers
and troubles,
but I certainly
don’t feel that
way about my
country anymore.
Most days
now I feel like
my country is
trying to do me
more harm than
good.
Observing
the worsening
condition of my
beloved country
right before my
eyes is similar
to watching an
old friend or
loved one
suffering from
dementia, or
Alzheimer’s
disease,
gradually slip
away from you.
You still
love them with
all your heart,
but you can feel
them slipping
away from you
day by day, and
that is exactly
the feeling I
now have about
my country as I
watch it go into
literal
‘decline’ in so
many, many ways
day after day
after day.
I wrote the
following poem
some time ago in
remembrance of
many special
people who came
in and out of my
life over the
years.
Now I
find myself
reminiscing
about yet
another dear
friend who is
leaving for some
un-Godly
destination.
My
country I have
known for all
these years is
going away—never
to return.
So, today
I am
rededicating
this poem to my
departing
country, as I
take yet another
sentimental
journey in my
mind over the
departure of a
longtime friend
I dearly love.
The poem
title is
‘Precious
Memories of
You.’
Precious
memories of you
will never fade
away
I remember our
days together as
though they were
yesterday
And as long as
life endures, I
will always
think of you
No matter where
I go, and no
matter what I do
I will cherish
those precious
memories of you
When I think of
past times and
how it used to
be
A heartwarming
feeling comes
streaming over
me
And when I think
of the laughs
and the dreams
we had
Of all the good
times and even
some of the bad
I fondly
recall those
precious
memories of you
We were once
together, but
time has since
brought change
Without you here
today, you know
it sure is
strange
And even though
right now, when
today can seem
rather sad
It’s the times
when I think
back, that make
me feel glad
To have those
precious
memories of you
But now
I realize, no
matter how hard
I might try
I will never
keep time from
rolling on and
passing by
So to treasure
those great
times I had with
you
Is the only
thing left now
for me to do
And be thankful
for those
precious
memories of you.
Yes, sadly the
America we knew
is leaving us,
but dear
Christians take
heart, because
we have always
known this
earthly sphere
is not our
permanent home.
The day
is coming when
God is going to
take all His
children to our
Heavenly home.
One day
Jesus Christ
will appear
above the earth
in a ‘cloud of
glory’ and we
will be caught
up in the air
with Him in the
‘twinkling’ of
an eye, when
with a 'shout'
Jesus will
command the
Christians, both
dead and alive,
to “COME
FORTH”!!!
That
glorious event
is termed ‘The
Rapture’, and
until that
‘unknown’ day
when ‘The
Rapture’ comes
to pass,
Christians can
obtain their
current comfort
and strength for
all things from
the scriptures
found in the
Bible.
Even though our
human
circumstances
always seem to
change with the
passage of time,
it is so
comforting and
reassuring to
know that God
will always
be here with us.
God tells
us in His
biblical
scripture, “I
will never leave
thee, nor
forsake thee.”
(Hebrews
13:5)
Friends and
family may come
and go, but God
will always be
there for us!
And it is God,
and only
God, who is our
fortress and
rock at all
times.
“God is
our refuge and
strength, a very
present help in
trouble.
Therefore
we will not
fear, though the
earth should
change.”
(Psalm
46: 1-2)
Yes,
as Martin Luther
wrote, ‘A Mighty
Fortress is Our
God.’
Should our
country continue
to change for
the worse and
eventually
‘hate’ all of us
Christians who
have loved our
country for such
a very long
time, we can
confidently say,
“The Lord is
my helper, I
will not fear.
What can
man do to me?”
(Hebrews
13:6)
Be anxious for
nothing, but in
everything
By prayer and
supplication
with
thanksgiving
Let your
requests be made
known to God
And the peace of
God, which
surpasses all
comprehension
Shall guard your
hearts and your
minds in Christ
Jesus.
(Philippians 4:
6-7)
The following
verses are
credited to
Frances de Sales
(1567-1622)
based on
Philippians 4:
6-7.