Sammy the Bald Eagle and the Blessing of America
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
America is a land of freedom, faith,
and opportunity. We are blessed to live in one nation under God, built on truth
and courage. Freedom is a gift that must be honored, protected, and cherished. Our
flag reminds us that liberty belongs to all who live here. God’s blessings flow
through our gratitude, our service, and our unity. When we stand together in
faith, we keep America strong. Love for our country begins with love for one
another. God bless America, our home of freedom, hope, and peace.
High above the mountains and rivers
of the great United States, a young bald eagle named Sammy spread his wings and
soared into the morning sky. The sun rose over the horizon, casting golden
light over the land below, fields of corn, sparkling lakes, busy towns, and
waving flags that danced proudly in the breeze.
Sammy loved flying across this great
land. “There’s no place like America,” he often said to his friends. “We live
in a country full of freedom and faith.”
One day, while resting on a tall
pine tree, Sammy’s friend Lucy the Lamb asked, “Sammy, what makes America so
special? Why do people always say it’s the land of the free?”
Sammy smiled. “That’s a wonderful
question, Lucy. Let me tell you a story, one that began long before either of
us was born.”
“Many years ago,” Sammy began,
“there were brave men and women who sailed across the ocean searching for a
place where they could worship God freely. They wanted to pray, read their
Bibles, and live by their faith without anyone telling them they couldn’t.
They landed on the shores of a new
land and thanked God for guiding them safely. That was the beginning of what
would one day become America.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “So America
began because people wanted to follow God?”
Sammy nodded proudly. “Yes, that’s right. Our country was built on Christian
foundations—on faith, courage, and gratitude to God. Even the Declaration of
Independence mentions that our rights come from our Creator.”
He stretched his wings wide. “That
means no person gives us our freedom; God does. And that’s what makes our
country so special.”
As Sammy spoke, more animals
gathered to listen: Benny the Bear, Rosie the Rabbit, and Charlie the Chipmunk.
Rosie asked, “But who leads our
country now?”
Sammy replied, “We are blessed to have a democracy, which means the people
choose their leaders. Every citizen gets a voice and a vote. We don’t have
kings or queens; we have elected representatives who are supposed to serve the
people.”
Charlie tilted his head. “So
everyone matters?”
“Yes,” said Sammy, “because in America, every person is created equal in the
eyes of God. That’s what the words ‘liberty and justice for all’ mean.”
Benny the Bear grinned. “That’s
awesome! But what about our flag? My dad says we should always stand tall when
it waves.”
Sammy smiled. “Our flag is a
beautiful symbol of who we are. The red stripes remind us of the courage and
sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom. The white stripes stand for
purity and truth. The blue field represents justice and perseverance. And those
fifty stars, one for each state, shine as a reminder that we are united as one
nation under God.”
The animals looked up as the wind
rustled a nearby flag, its colors glowing in the sunlight.
“America hasn’t always been
perfect,” Sammy said softly. “But we have always strived to become a better
nation. And when we turn to God, we find strength, forgiveness, and hope.”
Lucy nodded slowly. “That’s what
makes us blessed, isn’t it? That we can pray, go to church, and speak freely?”
“Exactly,” said Sammy. “There are many places in the world where people can’t
do that. But here, we have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom
to pursue our dreams.”
Rosie asked, “What does it mean to
be free?”
Sammy thought for a moment. “It means we can live our lives with choices, choices
guided by faith and love. It means we can work hard, help others, and make a
difference. But it also means we have responsibilities. Freedom must be protected.”
“How do we protect it?” asked
Charlie.
“By being good citizens,” Sammy said
firmly. “By respecting one another, obeying the laws, helping our communities,
and standing up for what is right. And by remembering that our freedom is a
gift from God, one we should never take for granted.”
The animals sat quietly for a
moment, thinking. Then Benny spoke up. “My grandpa says he was a soldier once.
He says he fought for America.”
Sammy’s eyes shone with pride. “Your grandpa is a hero. So many brave men and
women have fought to keep our country safe and free. We honor them by living
with gratitude and using our freedom wisely.”
Lucy said softly, “That makes me
want to pray for them.”
Sammy nodded. “That’s the best thing you can do. Pray for our leaders, our
soldiers, our neighbors, and for peace in our land.”
He looked around at his friends.
“You see, the strength of America isn’t in its buildings or cities—it’s in its
people. When we love God, love our families, and love our neighbors, we make
our country stronger.”
The next day, the animals decided to
hold a special gathering on the hill. They called it America Day.
Rosie brought flowers shaped like
stars.
Benny made a sign that said, "God Bless America."
Lucy led everyone in singing My Country, ’Tis of Thee.
When they finished, Sammy lifted his
wings and said proudly, “Let’s say the Pledge of Allegiance together.”
The animals stood tall, paws over
their hearts, and spoke the words slowly and meaningfully:
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.”
When they were done, silence filled
the air, beautiful, peaceful silence. The sun set behind them, painting the sky
red, white, and blue.
Sammy turned to his friends and
said, “Never forget how blessed we are to live in this great nation. It’s not
perfect, but it is precious. And we have the responsibility to keep it a land
of freedom, faith, and love.”
Lucy smiled. “God bless America,”
she whispered.
And all the animals echoed softly, “God bless America.”
As the stars began to twinkle, Sammy
looked up and said a quiet prayer.
“Thank you, Lord, for this land. Thank you for freedom, for family, and for
faith. Help us remember that this nation is Yours.”
And from that day on, every time the
animals saw the flag wave in the wind, they stood tall, proud, and grateful, for
they knew they were part of something sacred and strong.
Poem:
God bless our land, both far and
near,
Where freedom’s song is bright and clear.
One nation built on faith and prayer,
With hearts united everywhere.
The stars and stripes wave proudly and true,
Reminding us what we must do.
To love, to serve, to humbly stand,
As grateful children of this land.
💬 Thoughtful Questions for Kids and Parents:
1.
Why did Sammy say America was
founded on faith in God?
2.
What does the flag represent, and
why is it important to show respect for it?
3.
What are some ways we can be good
citizens and protect our freedom?
4.
How can prayer and kindness help
make America stronger?
5.
Why is it important to be thankful
to God for our blessings as Americans?
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