The Independence Day Parade

How exciting! The Independence Day Parade was finally starting! Sue and Aaron could barely sit still as they watched the parade pass. Red, white, and blue streamers decorated the street around them. Soon, beautiful horses trotted by with colorful ribbons braided into their manes. Following them was a man on stilts everybody called "Uncle Sam." Aaron jumped to his feet as the local high school marching band began playing the song “Yankee Doodle.” For the next hour, he kept humming the tune—he couldn't get out of his mind! Sue giggled as a clown wheeled by on his unicycle, lost his balance, and toppled over.

Just as the parade was coming to an end, a man suddenly ran into the street and dropped an American flag onto the cement. He lit the flag on fire! He yelled out, “Down with America !” In a moment, two police officers had grabbed the man and collected the burnt flag off the street.

Aaron and Sue were surprised and puzzled. They asked their dad why the man had done that. Looking sad, their father replied, “Not everybody loves America as much as we do. That man isn't proud of our country and the freedom we have. A long time ago people who loved God built our country and because of that, God has blessed it. The United States isn't perfect, but we have a freedom that many other countries do not have."

Their mom joined the conversation. "We are living in one of the greatest nations in the world today. But many people do not serve God anymore. We need to pray that our country will turn back to God."
As the children enjoyed the rest of the parade, they kept those words on their minds. That evening, before they went to bed, Aaron and Sue said a prayer for their country and asked God to help their leaders make right decisions.

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