My husband Mark and I went to see the movie Young Washington yesterday. It is not a good movie for small children, as there are many combat scenes and historical elements, but it is a great movie with historical accuracy, beautiful scenery, and no excessive gore.

With the incredible July heat and our country’s 250th anniversary, a movie like this is a perfect way to spend a couple of hours in an air-conditioned theater. Just saying.

In the movie, George is in his 20s, a colonist from Virginia, and a land surveyor. While surveying a vast, untamed wilderness, he discovers a French outpost. The French have claimed the land without notifying the British, who also claimed it.

Because of Washington’s surveying skills and timing, but despite his youth and lack of military experience, he ended up leading a ragtag volunteer militia into battle against a huge army.

He failed. Badly. Embarrassingly. Overwhelmingly.

He could have slunk away into obscurity, but he chose to learn from his mistakes and develop new strategies. He ultimately became the first President of our country.

For the past month or so, the World Cup has brought thousands of visitors to the US. Many have raved about our land’s beauty and vastness, the freedom we enjoy, and the kindness and welcoming nature of Americans.

Surprised? I was, too.

We are good at beating ourselves up. Not so good at gratitude.

Lately, Mark and I have been binge-watching documentaries about our National Parks. They are, without a doubt, awe-inspiring, majestic, and completely magical. There is so much to see and such beauty. They are definitely on our bucket list for the next few years.

Americans have so much to be grateful for. We take all this beauty and freedom for granted. So many people around the world long to come to America to vacation or to live and work.

For all our faults, and there are many, yes, we are still blessed with immense gifts.

We are all human. We make mistakes, we overstep boundaries, sometimes in the name of progress, sometimes just because we are human. Flawed humans.

But we are still Americans, and have the freedom to recognize our mistakes, discuss solutions together, regroup, and try again. Individually and together.

There was a story about a great Indian chief. Indian tribes fought alongside Washington, but after his great loss, they turned against him and fought with the French.

The chief told its warriors to shoot Washington specifically. The men were sharpshooters, known for their skill and accuracy.

Washington was very tall, over 6 feet, riding a horse and wearing a bright red British uniform. He was an easy target.

One musket ball passed through the point on the front of Washington’s hat. Washington later wrote that there were four holes in his coat as well. Yet not a drop of blood was shed.

Some years later, the chief met with Washington. He told him a prophecy, “The Great Spirit protects that man (Washington) and guides his destinies – he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can never die in battle.”  (From mountvernon.org, Alexandra L. Montgomery, PhD, Director for the Center of Digital History at George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon)

Did this really happen? Maybe. I like to think so. And I believe as well that God did, indeed, shed His grace on our country.

For all our faults and mistakes and by God’s provision, WE MADE IT to 250 years!

God Bless America, now and forever. Amen.