Sort and Cull

Heading into this week, I can't help but feel an overwhelming sensation of gratefulness. Grateful that America is the land I get to call home and get to watch my children grow up in. Grateful that because of our founding fathers, the American dream has been able to thrive and multiply from the banks of Virginia to the shores of California. And grateful that God allows me to live this life and has given me another day.

I personally have always been someone who loved politics. Not the politics of today that are cheap and dirty and cutthroat. But understanding how government works, how power can change when elections turn the course of history and the feeling of pride that comes when you take on your civic duty and participate in an educated manner in said elections. However, I must admit, over the course of time, it's been easy to become discouraged with our political leaders by some of the decisions they've made and even grow weary of the outlook for our country.

But when I stopped watching the news every morning and stopped letting the chaos of the world shape my perspective on life and the current state of country -- I started to notice something.

Yes, there is always a headline to be read and craziness happening somewhere in the world. Unfortunately, sometimes that craziness is even on our own soil. But, by and large, there is still so much goodness in the world. Just this past spring when I was traveling for work, a driver backed into my rental car. The gentleman who hit my car could easily have driven away and let the situation fall entirely into my lap. But he didn't. He left a note with his name, contact information and the contact information of his insurance company. God bless America and the good men and women who keep it so!

This past weekend we traveled down to southern Wyoming and then into northern Colorado for some brandings. The number of people who offered to allow us to keep horses at their place while we were traveling -- and even offered to let us stay at their homes so we wouldn't have to get a hotel room -- was truly humbling. Once again, God bless America and the good men and women who work to keep it so!

If this doesn't make the American pride in your heart beam, I don't know what will. While in Colorado we stopped in at the local rodeo in Walden and, lo and behold, they were letting kids mutton bust. You can imagine the excitement in my four- and two-year-old sons' eyes when we asked if they wanted to ride a sheep. But aside from the rodeo committee making a conscious effort to include the kids and give them a place to find purpose and excitement in the day's festivities, they then lined all the kids up after they attempted to ride the sheep and gave them all a fresh $2 bill. Once again, God bless America and the good men and women who work to keep it so!

I know this isn't my usual market rundown, but it's not very often a country reaches its 250th birthday. I pray you take the time to enjoy the freedoms we have in this beautiful country, and that you take the time to enjoy one another. We really don't have to be in a constant state of running. It's OK to slow down and take a minute to reflect upon the goodness and the good people around you.

ShayLe Stewart can be reached at ShayLe.Stewart@dtn.com

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