S Club Mama

The Berenstain Bears have provided my generation and my kids' generation with some of the best social stories available. They have helped us with teaching our children respect, contentedness (the Gimmes), the dentist, and doctor, among other things. I have really enjoyed the newer Living Lights stories, helping to teach faith to our children. I was excited for an Independence Day story, " The Berenstain Bears' God Bless Our Country " by Mike Berenstain, for my children. We don't have many for the 4th of July (if any?) so I thought this would be great. I liked how they told about the Revolutionary War and why it was fought. I loved the "Li-bear-ty Bell," just cute and cleaver. image via BookLook However, I did not like that the book quoted the Old Testament when talking about America. It called this country a land flowing with milk and honey. While this is the Land of Opportunity, that Scripture specifically is referring to the Promised Land/Israe...

Right now our country is in a state of economic crisis (no matter if some say it's over) and we're at war in a foreign country. It may not be the best of times for some but it also is probably not the worst of times for most. We are blessed to live in a country of abundance or, at the very least, some. Many go without. We are blessed to live in a country of relative safety. Many fall daily both without this assurance and to protect our assurance. We are blessed to live in a country with certain inalienable rights. Many are persecuted for much less. We are blessed to live in a country with free speech and freedom of religion. Many have no freedom.  We are blessed to live in a country with a military system in place to defend us at the country's beck and call. Many rely on those same soldiers because they have few or none.  We, the United States of America, are blessed. Please remember this as you celebrate your Independence Day. "because the flag stil...