Maxim in America - the Blessed of the Blessed

Today, everyone in the extended family had the day off since tomorrow is Independence Day, also known as the 4th of July. America's so-called birthday. We enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings at Daniel's parents' place and Maxim finally enjoyed the tractor ride with Grandpa he's been hoping for, now that the body cast is a thing of the past. Cousins shot nerf-type rockets up in the air, tossed baseballs back and forth, rode Uncle Brian's go-cart around the farm and down the dirt road and just enjoyed each other's company. Aunt Carolanne, who was recently hospitalized again due to colitis was up on her feet and able to enjoy the festivities too. There is nothing like family together. We don't do it nearly enough.

Really interesting to contemplate as we celebrate the holiday with Maxim for the first time.

Things I may not have noticed before strike me intensely this year because of our experience overseas during Maxim's adoption, as well as different things that have transpired since the election of our new president last Fall.

In Ukraine, where Maxim was born, they have only been independent of outside rule since the early '90s. After release from the former Soviet Union, certain freedoms were achieved but at a great price. The Soviet Union was extremely orderly. Parks were precisely designed and well maintained. Now they are run down, with the pools emptied of any water and the fountains turned off. Public and government buildings are slowly falling apart because there are no funds dedicated for their up-keep. A large number of stray dogs run wild, sometimes in dangerous packs, because there are no longer any dog catchers. In general, families have only one or two children and both parents work full time (very long hours, often far from home), while the babushkas (grandmothers) raise the children.
Stadiums, once the pride of the Soviet Olympic training system, stand silent. Many people we spoke to admitted there is such corruption in their government, they don't really expect any of this to change, so it's everyone for himself. Overall, people do not trust their leaders or each other. Freedom from the Soviet Union was achieved but no one knows what to do with it. First hand accounts from former slaves in our country indicate not all knew what to do with the freedom handed to them after the Civil War. Scripture tells us the Israelites didn't handle their freedom from Egypt so well in many ways. Maxim is no longer tied to the Ukrainian orphanage system, which is wonderful, but he still needs boundaries. Daniel and I are entrusted with the task of teaching him certain boundaries so the freedom he has been blessed with will actually be enjoyable and beneficial.

Here in the United States of America, we are uniquely blessed. Not because we are such great people, but because God is God. Long ago, He made promises of blessings and cursings to those who would obey or choose to disobey His ways. The blessings were promised to multiple generations. In short, we have what we have in great part because of choices made by those who came before us. Yes, our choices make a difference in our own personal lives, but I think we have forgotten to be thankful for the fact that many of those who came before us were obedient to God's ways to the best of their ability and we are reaping the benefits. We have forgotten that the choices we are making now are not supposed to be focused only on what we can attain and achieve but on what effect we may have on future generations.

This country is not perfect. We all know that. However, maybe we have individually and nationally been so focused on ourselves at times that we don't realize how abundantly blessed we are. Take a look at this quick comparison with Ukraine.

In America, you can call 9-1-1 and someone will come to help you, quickly and efficiently, eith few exceptions. There is no such system in Ukraine. In fact, if you are not willing/able to immediately pay the ambulance driver whatever they feel like charging at a given moment, forget calling for help at all.

In America, if you're lost, you can flag down a policeman and he'll actually assist you and want to help you on your way. In Ukraine, people do what they can to avoid the police if at all possible due to fears from the past and knowing that there is still great corruption. The thought that a policeman might be someone to seek out in time of need is mind-boggling to them.

In Ukraine, people don't seem to smile very much. We were told that people who "smile too much" are viewed as completely stupid or suspicious.

Our nation has an amazing system of roadways, libraries, public universities, medical facilities, national parks, etc., which afford every single citizen opportunities for constant new learning, exploration, pleasure, safety and education.
Yes, we sometimes treat each other poorly and need to re-learn some basic etiquette in getting along, but we are sooooooo incredibly blessed.

If you are an American yet believe that as such, you have somehow been completely cheated in life, I hope Maxim, who became a citizen of this great nation just a few months ago, doesn't meet you anytime soon. You see, through his eyes, this place is still amazing. To him, trash trucks are beautiful. When he sits in his booster seat in the van and surveys all the things we pass as we drive through town, it's all positive to him. He doesn't care that many "more mature" people wouldn't want to be a trash man and look down on those those who are. He just sees this terrific vehicle that comes down the street, lifts and empties each dumpster and whisks the trash away. He doesn't care that the bright yellow house is in a rundown, questionable part of town. He just sees a house that is his favorite color and hopes he can live there some day. He thinks all things really are possible.

Ukraine has beauty and weakness. America has beauty and weakness. Both are full of faults. But by God's grace, this really is the "land of opportunity". We experience it today because someone before us recognized that fact and tended the freedoms wisely. Someone treasured the resources we have and carefully nurtured and multiplied them. Someone taught their children to be polite, faithful and hard-working and those children taught their children. Someone prayed, took good care of their possessions and were quick to lend a hand to those around them. Someone thought of those generations coming up behind them and tried to leave their little corner of the world better than they found it.

Happy birthday America! Appreciate what you have and tend it well. Pray to discern what is broken and what is not. Fix what is truly broken and vehemently protect what is not. Acknowledge sin and turn from it. Acknowledge God in all you do and He will direct your paths. What better Director could there possibly be.

Maxim, it will be your birthday soon. May you continue to see the blessings all around you and be a good steward of each. Give God all the credit and honor for the opportunities that come your way. It is truly His hand that has brought you to this land and to this family. Welcome to America!