This is an article that I wrote a while back when the kneeling during the National Anthem first started. Today is Gold Star Mother’s Day and I thought it appropriate to post this article again in honor and memory of the families and the lost loved ones that died.

It was Melinda’s senior year in high school. She was on a basketball team that was predicted to win the state tournament and bring home the gold. As the season neared it’s end and it was tournament time, Melinda was passed over in the district and the regional to get an all tournament trophy.

I never said a word out loud about it but in my heart I hurt for her because I knew she was a really good player. In her heart of hearts she played because she loved the game and because she chose to set up the plays and make assists which made easy shots for the other players and unless you really know the sport would seem as if she was a mediocre player.

As we rounded the curve in the back road to the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro that day of the state tournament finals I prayed to God a very selfish prayer. I prayed that Melinda would make the all tournament team and receive the trophy and the glory that she deserved.

To make a long story short, the game didn’t go anything as planned and our lady cats lost in the last seconds of the game and were devastated to say the least. When it came time for the runner up trophy to be handed out our players were so stunned that they were either still crying, mad, or just licking their wounds. Melinda slowly got up and walked out alone on the court to receive the loser’s trophy.

I didn’t think a lot about Melinda’s act that day because I was also hurt and disappointed but mostly not understanding God for not answering my prayful request.

The next day as I walked into work a coworker pulled me over and said, I just want you to know how proud I am of your daughter at the state tournament and how she walked out there and got that loser’s trophy and in spite of disappointment and hurt she acted like she had some home training. My thoughts immediately rushed back to my plea to God to let Melinda receive the glory she deserved.

After the coworker spoke with me and I continued on into the hospital that morning I passed by the Tennessean newspaper stand and Melinda had also made the front page of the sports section holding the loser trophy.

God taught me a huge lesson that day. His ways are not our ways!

All this fussing and bickering in this country and trying to change history is hurting all of us. Our men and women have fought and died throughout the centuries to make US look good…. to make Americans who they are in the world today. They are the ones that the flag stands for. During all these natural disasters and bad things happening lately our cops, fireman, rescue workers, doctors, and nurses work round the clock without rest and risk or give their lives many times and that is what that flag stands for.

My Dad was a farmer plus he worked another job during the day and plowed fields sometimes into the night and that’s what that flag stands for. My Mom was a stay at home Mom in our early years and then a Mom that worked later and that’s what that flag stands for.

America is the melting pot of all religions and all races and there is good people and bad people in every one of them. We need to respect and honor our heritage. Sure, we have disgraces and evil acts in our past just like our own personal families do sometimes. We can’t go back and change the past one iota but we need to build from it and admit our mistakes and try and better ourselves and honor our raising.

We are Americans and we are all family. I disagree 100 percent with not standing for our anthem or disregarding our flag. It riles me up fast but just like the Melinda story I know God is going to work it His way if we will get ourselves out of the way and kneel to him instead of all this ME stuff going on. So, as Forrest Gump would say, That’s all I got to say about that!
We are better than this people! Let’s show we got some raising……