The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
Proverbs 18:17 ESV
America has received many visitors from other nations due to the World Cup. At times, only when we see ourselves as others see us can we have a balanced view of ourselves. The visitors, especially from the European nations, have been expressing some very surprising opinions about this nation. They have been pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of the American people, unlike the view they have received from their press. Some have expressed feeling misled by the media. Some went as far as to say that they felt they needed to apologize to the American people.
One person, after visiting a Walmart, was amazed that you could find everything imaginable in one store. They were astounded by the number of choices we have to eat, not to mention the amount of ice we get in our soft drinks. Another World Cup fan could not believe that people were protesting about having to live in America. Each new generation that has lived in the blessing God has provided for us can gradually lose its appreciation for that blessing. It takes people who do not live in this nation to open our eyes about the privilege we have to live in this nation.
Yes, I know that the United States of America is not a perfect nation, and there are things about which we need to protest, yet we are blessed, not because we are better than other nations, but because of the grace of God. America was founded on Judeo-Christian values. I was a missionary, and every time I set foot on American soil again, I could see the blessings of this nation just a little more clearly because I had experienced countries with which to compare it. America is a blessed nation, and I think that is a fair and balanced observation.
Books by Ken Barnes
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