As I looked over by the bathroom sink the other evening, I noticed that Madeline was brushing her teeth and doing something with a cell phone at the same time. I lost no time telling her to put that thing away while she brushed her teeth, as she stood there looking at me with foam from the toothpaste oozing down her chin. In just a bit she explained the reason for the phone in her hand—she was timing herself! As much as I dislike kids having cell phones, I guess I have to excuse her on that one since she wanted to be sure that she brushed for the appropriate amount of time. Sounds like her recent trip to the dentist had an impact on her desire for continued good oral hygiene.

That same evening as the girls were getting ready to go to Vacation Bible School to see what kind of mischief Willie (their favorite puppet) would stir up, Addy made her grand appearance wearing an item of clothing that Madeline recognized. The look on Madeline’s face grew more sullen when she learned that her mother had handed the clothing down to Addy. Madeline’s displeasure became even more intense as she stated that she could still wear the outfit and she was going to tell her mother! Thankfully the drama soon passed and all was well between them.

If we will pay attention, we will see that children do some interesting things. It is priceless to watch them grow up and begin to experience the ups and downs of life.

I am thankful for all those little girls (who are not so little anymore) that bring so much joy to our lives. I am also thankful for the freedoms that they have in this nation and the privileges that they get to enjoy. Too often we take such blessings for granted; we would do well to pay attention to the many ways that God has blessed us in this nation.

In the Old Testament, we are given the story about a man named Job who paid attention to the important things of life, and a most important aspect of life that he paid close attention to was his family. Job 1:5 states regarding Job’s concern for his family that, “When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them [his children] purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom” (New International Version).

As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we would do well to pay attention to the needs of our country.

Rather than only complaining about our national needs and concerns, we need to do for our nation what Job did for his children: call out to God asking for His forgiveness and intervention.

We need to pay more attention to the direction that our national leaders are leading us in. We need to pay attention to the lack of reliance upon God that is growing in our land.

Our nation has been greatly blessed by God and tremendously used by Him for many years. Now we stand in need of spiritual renewal and it is imperative that we pay attention to what is taking place across our land, and ask God to help us to once again become a nation that loves, honors, and pleases Him.