America at 250: A Nation Worth Loving
Since I was a little girl, I have loved America, and I still do.
I love this country because it is built on the belief that every person has value and that freedom is worth protecting. For 250 years, America has explored, grown, learned, and continually strived to become better than the day before. We have made mistakes, faced hardships, and experienced division, but we have also shown incredible courage, resilience, and hope. That is part of what makes America beautiful.
I love watching our flag wave in the breeze. I love the Liberty Bell, a symbol that freedom has a voice. I love the Statue of Liberty, standing tall as a reminder that hope welcomes people from every walk of life. These symbols remind me that liberty is both a blessing and a responsibility.
As a woman living with cerebral palsy and using a motorized wheelchair, I have experienced challenges that many people will never fully understand. Yet I have also experienced tremendous blessings. I have a loving husband, wonderful children, meaningful work as a teacher, opportunities to write and speak, faithful friends, and the freedom to advocate for accessibility and inclusion. My wheelchair is not a symbol of limitation—it is one of independence, possibility, and the life I have been blessed to live.
I believe every human life has value. Every child, every adult, every senior, every person with a disability matters. We are not mistakes. We are not burdens. We are created with purpose, and our lives are worth celebrating. America is stronger when every person is welcomed, respected, and given the opportunity to contribute their unique gifts.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, let us remember that liberty has never been free. It has always required ordinary people willing to defend it, protect it, and pass it on to the next generation. Freedom should never be taken for granted.
I also hope we remember something else: politics should never become more important than people. We will not agree on everything, but we can choose respect over insults, conversations over division, and common ground over anger. Our nation needs more listening, more compassion, and more grace.
Above all, I thank God for His faithfulness throughout my life. My strength has never come from my own abilities but from the One who has walked beside me through every challenge and every victory. God has given me purpose, and I pray that our country will continue to seek His wisdom, love our neighbors, and protect the freedoms that allow us to worship Him openly.
Today, let’s celebrate not only our nation’s history but also its people. Celebrate those who serve, those who teach, those who care for others, those who work hard every day, and yes, celebrate people with disabilities who continue to prove that our lives have immeasurable value.
May God continue to bless America. May we remain one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸❤️
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