With summer in full swing, we are also firmly in the middle of the most patriotic time of the year.

Memorial Day and Flag Day are barely in the rearview, and Independence Day is looming large on the horizon.

If you haven’t unfurled your flag, strung up the bunting or purchased fireworks yet – well, now is the time! We are loving seeing the county draped in red, white and blue.

Amidst the pool parties and cookouts, lake days and camping trips, we hope you’ll also make time to take pride in our country and honor everything it has taken to bring us to this point.

Does our country have problems? Undoubtedly. No matter where you stand on divisive topics from the economy to poverty to the environment and beyond, the U.S. has certainly not reached the very pinnacle of what it could hope to be someday.

What is also undoubtedly true, however, is that we live in a great country, filled with blessings and assets that people in many countries can only dream of. Despite the negatives, we have so many positives we can be proud of.

Even as we deal with problems like illiteracy, food insecurity, crime, hate, inflation, broken homes and more – let’s be honest with ourselves, we do have problems – we also see the innumerable benefits of living in the great U.S. of A. We have amazing freedoms, amazing opportunities, amazing prosperity.

O beautiful for spacious skies. For amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain. America! America! God shed his grace on thee!

Splendid words, for a splendid country.

Let’s not forget to embrace a patriotic spirit this summer.