Donned in our exercising attire and running shoes, my husband and I were all set to go out on our afternoon fitness expeditions. Our son who was securely strapped into his new running stroller was equally excited over the trip and the fact that he would be bounced to and fro.

It was a perfectly beautiful evening for a walk. The lake we live on added to the pleasure and excitement of our family's outing. The water was glistening and there was a crisp breeze that fluttered around our beings.

After we had walked about four blocks we turned toward the small park that peeres over the lake. As we entered the walkway entrance of the park we were approaching the tall flagpole that stands superior to the lake. 

Engaged in conversation, my husband and I failed to hear my son's gentle cry. As my husband and I continued to talk, my son soon became frustrated by the
lack of attention we were showing him and demanded to know why.

Hearing the desperation in our son's tone and realizing he needed to be heard we turned to our son and asked him what was wrong.

He turned his little eyes to us and asked, "Why, why is the flag sad?"

We had no idea what he was talking about and asked him once again what was wrong. 

Again, he asked "why is it sad?", and he slowly looked up.

Our eyes followed his gaze up to the tall flagpole where the American flag hung so limp and lifeless. I was amazed and stunned, yet moved beyond words. 

As we stood there speechless, looking up at the flag, I pondered on how my three-year old son could put the emotion sadness with a flag that had no wind to sail it. In that moment, an overwhelming sadness came over me. 

Perhaps, the flag is sad along with America. Could the flag be sad because China is holding twenty-four of America's soldiers hostage? 

Maybe there is even a bigger picture the flag is portraying here. Could it be that our country, America, which was founded under God does not even
know who God is, how sad. 

The flag my son saw that day and so strongly sensed its sadness represented our nation so real, but another image came to my mind that day.

The image of Jesus Christ, who was crucified and hung on the cross for us all, even the ones that have turned him away, that we might know him and have
everlasting life.

In the same way the flag looked to my son that day how Christ must have looked hanging on the cross...so sad and lifeless. But unlike the flag and America, who we cannot put total trust into, Christ is life. He rose again, and he will return. 

I learned through my son's eyes and the flag he so pleaded over that America is crying out. We need God and without him our country will die.

Like the flag that needed wind to sail, we need God in order to prevail.

My wish is that you pray for America, pray for our soldiers that they return safe and sound, pray for our President, pray for us as people, and lastly pray that our children will not look at our Country's flag and know the sadness America feels, and always have faith that one day the flags will sail gaily forever more.