by ST, Nov 2024
My family heritage encompasses many who made the Pilgrim-age for religious freedom, from the 1620s on, including those who left the civilization of Europe & America to pioneer/settle the wilderness: some by choice, some by force. I relate to others in law who came later–such as the early 1900s–in search of a better life, a life less dictated by difficulties imposed by constant warfare and autocracies. These are the heritage of US.
Even though they left, they brought with them the heritage of the lands and cultures of their ancestors, my ancestors, our ancestors. Even Native Americans came from somewhere else, and brought, and amended, their cultures. I am grateful for those heritages, even despite their individual and national imperfections. I celebrate the good of every person and culture, knowing they each enrich my life. Actually, even their faults & failings enrich my life, both in consolation for my own faults & failings (since we are all human), and that I/we can learn to be more wise.
In my family’s past are those who fought for freedom, in wars from the American Revolution and Civil War, through more recent wars and conflicts abroad. They bore arms in defense of freedom, and they served to support those who did the physical fighting: their immediate and extended families, in particular. I have a heritage of those who fought for freedom in what they said and wrote, with their votes, and through serving in the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
And I have a heritage of hard work, working through hard times, of staying the course, though long it may be. I have inherited what I value, such as honesty/integrity, kindness, learning from school and the school of Life, faithfulness & loyalty. I’m thankful to my progenitors and progeny who exemplify these in their lives.
How can I thank those who came before, and those who are yet to come, in a long chain of choices for freedom, independence, dependability, the blessings and offering of Hope these near and dear, and even those afar and unknown gave to and for me? Surely we honor best by living honorably, and I pray I will so live that I may be an influence for Good in whatever sphere I may be.
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