Today, as Americans cast their votes (yes, I already have), I am thankful that we live in a free and peaceful society. I think we often take that for granted.
As I’m researching the WWII story I’m writing, I am horrified at the way the Dutch people suffered during the war. The Dutch are a proud and stubborn people and those characteristics made life very difficult for them. They fought back. The Germans fought harder. They persecuted the people and they suffered terribly. The Allies forgot about them. They liberated the part of the Netherlands they needed to in order to reach Germany. The northern provinces weren’t liberated until the war ended. That winter of 1944-1945 was called the hongerwinter. 18-20,000 Dutch starved to death. Men – all men, not just Jews – were rounded up and sent to work in Germany. Members of my family were taken and never seen again.
The books I’ve read have made me feel more Dutch and have made me proud of my heritage. But I’m even more proud to be an American and thankful to God and to my grandparents for the privilege to live in this nation where I’m free. I’m not persecuted (not really), and I’m never hungry.
Thank God for this nation and the ability to vote for your leaders. And pray with me that the men and women of God’s choosing will be voted into office today.
I also think that Americans take their country for granted. When you live where we do, you live with many other things. I have often heard Americans complaining about things there, but it’s SO MUCH worse here. America is still the land of promise and opportunity to many people living in Africa! Hope it all goes well!