LET FREEDOM RING!

Please help me welcome inspirational romance writer Debby Lee to my blog. This is her very first guest blog, so let's help her relax and have fun. FYI--she's giving away a free book and Starbucks gift card to one lucky commenter who posts by Sunday night (July 4). See her comments near the end of the post.

Here's Debby Lee: Our Forefathers marched through sleet, snow and hail to fight the British with shoddy weaponry, minimal ammunition, and sorely lacking in food and shelter, all to bring us freedom. The odds were against them, but they forged ahead anyway. They had a dream of overcoming tyranny to find a better way of life and they didn’t let fear and intimidation get in their way.

As I write this blog on the week our country celebrates its freedom, I think of some of the issues that have held me captive. Issues that have caused me to draw into the shadows of life and sit comfortable unnoticed.

I wasn’t a real big kid growing up. If anything, I was down-right scrawny. Anybody who knew me then would surely agree. This made me feel vulnerable and thus retreat into the shadows of the school’s hallways and hide in corners. I didn’t think anybody would notice a little thing like me anyway. Well, the Colonials were a much smaller force than the Redcoats, yet look what they were able to accomplish. Although they were hopelessly outnumbered they were able to defeat the enemy. Don’t let the lack of strength or any kind of weakness keep you from dreaming big. Set your goals high and then stretch, and reach higher.

Like everyone else in life, at times I’ve been taken advantage of. Trauma happens. Heartbreak can keep us in the shadows licking our wounds and preventing us from venturing forth and staying the course. Don’t be afraid to grieve properly, it will make you a stronger person. But don’t be complacent with unfairness either. When the Colonials were taxed unjustly, they dumped a boatload of tea into the Boston Harbor. They didn’t stand for injustice and neither should we. Venture forth anyway. Stand up for what’s right even if it costs.

Failures are another thing that has caused me to withdraw. It seems that everybody notices failure making it difficult and scary to try again. Sometimes it’s easier to stop trying than to risk drawing even more negative attention. But where would our country be if our forefathers had given up after the Battle of Bunker Hill or at Elizabethtown? They reached deep down into their hearts and found the courage to try again, and kept fighting until the enemy surrendered. How glad I am that they didn’t give up. Let me encourage you to be bold, be brave, be willing to find courage to stand up and try again.

Lots of folks tend to think of colonial times during the Fourth of July, but let us not forget the sacrifices of other brave souls who have fought for freedom. There are scores of military personnel who have faced combat on a number of battlefields. There are those who have defended this country over the waters of Pearl Harbor, in the jungles of Vietnam, and currently in desserts of the Middle East. These soldiers are every bit as courageous as the ones who fought with rusty muskets hundreds of years ago. They have earned and deserve our respect, our honor and our praise. Don’t be shy about telling them so.

The struggles for freedom also happened in the streets across America as Susan B. Anthony marched and protested to give women the right to vote. It happened in factories as Rosie the Riveter took up the drill and built airplanes that were eventually used to protect our country. It happened on the steps of Washington DC as Martin Luther King proclaimed "I have a dream . . . I have a dream . . . I have a dream!"

In closing, I hope you will bring honor to those who have fought for this country by doing all you can to make it a better place to live for others. Break free from the chains of fear and intimidation and be the best person you can be. Remember to always pursue your dreams no matter how dark it may seem. Like a caterpillar that struggles to free itself from the constricting cocoon, realize that light and freedom are out there. Spread your wings and fly high my friends.

What do you dream of breaking free from? What fears are you willing to face in order to achieve victory? What goals are you willing to strive for in spite of overwhelming odds? Please be willing to share, I’d love to hear your story. Those who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing for a devotional book I’m published in and a 10 dollar Starbucks gift card. Those who visit my website and sign up for my newsletter will be entered in another drawing for an additional devotional book and 10 dollar gift card.

Debby Lee has always enjoyed writing poetry, short stories and in her diary. Her work has been published in numerous newsletters, college journals, e-zine’s and in a book of devotions. Besides RWA, she belongs to the Christian Writers Guild and the American Christian Fiction Writers. She is happily married, has five children and lives in Centralia Washington with her family. Reading is one of her favorite hobbies. Her other interests include traveling, being active in her local church and cheering for the Seattle Seahawks. You can learn more about Debby Lee here.

23 comments:

  1. Thanks for your inspiring words, Debby. We all need those reminders to "Be strong and courageous". God's charge to Joshua can be his charge to us as well and we must live up to the call whether a soldier in combat or a writer meeting a deadline or a scared girl in school pulling herself out of the shadows. Thanks for sharing a glimpse into the battles of your past to encourage us as we struggle with our own in the present.

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  2. Debby, thanks so much for being here today. Great post. Very inspiring.

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  3. Wow. I can see why you write inspirational. I know it's a belief, but you're also very good at it. Thanks for the great blog, Debby.

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  4. Dear Laurie, thanks so much for those kind words. You've really touched my heart. Becky, thanks for your kind words and also for the opportunity to share on this great blog. I am so grateful. Karen, thanks for stopping by and for the opportunity to help with your book. Blessings to you all this weekend.
    Hugs, Debby Lee

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  5. Debby, what a great post for our 4th of July weekend! "Light and freedom" are indeed out there. Thanks for the reminder and the wonderful inspiration!

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  6. Debby, thanks for a wonderful post on this holiday weekend!

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  7. Great post and now that you've gotten the 'first' one out of the way we'll expect more. Have a Happy 4th.

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  8. Dear Wendy, Laurie, and Lavada, thank you so much for stopping by and posting s comment. Your kindness has touched my heart. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Debby Lee

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  9. Debbie
    I enjoyed reading Let Freedom Ring. We do tend to forget about those that came before us and gave so that we could have the freedoms that we have today. We usually remember those that gave of their time, sacrificed their lives for our freedoms during this time of year and Memorial Day. As a Christian I am most thankful and grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because without the greatest sacrifice of all none of us would be here to experience the freedoms that we are allowed to experience daily. We are a nation with many freedoms that some countries do not get to experience and I do believe we tend to forget that. I wish you luck in your writings and pray for you and your family many blessings.
    Juanita EDWARDS Urban

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  10. Debby I am so proud of you, what a lovely post and very timely. Your post is very inspirational.
    Girl you have spread your wings,you are brave and so gifted.
    Thanks & blessings to you & your family! Love you!

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  11. Thanks so much Juanita for stopping by and reading my blog. I remember you from high school and it's so good to hear from you. Thank you for the prayers too. I hope to catch up with you sometime and not just on Facebook.
    Aunt Patti, thanks for visiting my blog and web site. Your kind words really warmed my heart. Love you too. Hugs, Debby Lee

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  12. Debby, thank you for sharing your blog. You are right about standing strong. No matter where we are in life, we can become discouraged. Giving up is easy; endeavoring to continue in our calling is a challenge. Your blog encouraged me to continue on. Thank you.

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  13. I find most writers are introverts. And the best way to break out of shyness is to attend writers conferences. For the first time you are surrounded by people who understand where you are coming from!

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  14. Debby, what a wonderful post. My army son and I thank you.

    I let fear of failure stop me many times until I realized that I had to push me aside to reach my dream. Don't let anyone, even yourself, stop you from finding your dreams.

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  15. Dear Nancy,thank you for stopping by, I'm so glad you found encouragement. I pray you continue to forge ahead.
    Sharon, Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I too have found that most writers are introverts and conferences are wonderful places to come out of my proverbial shell.
    Jill, thanks so much for stopping over. I hope your army son is home safe and not in harms way. Let me know if he's in the Middle East and I'll say a prayer for his safe return.
    Thanks agsain to all of you and have a great weekend. Hugs, Debby Lee

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  16. Nice post.

    I'm a believer in that July 4 is just a day and that freedom is everyday. It's more than Christmas -- you can be a Christian believer and be oppressed, or you can be here and be a believer and live freely too.

    So do the right things on July 4th, but remember them on July 5th too, and not just because you get the Monday off. Well, maybe that's really why you should remember July 5th or any other weekend or government holiday. Next time you look at your calendar or in the mirror and think "That's my right" to do whatever because some brave souls along the way found the courage to know that not succeeding was not an option.

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  17. Debby - what a wonderful post. Can't believe this is your first one! I look forward to reading many more. I'm feeling very inspired, which tells me you are definitely in the right genre! :)

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  18. Debby, thanks for an inspiring post and a wonderful tribute to those who have given so much in order for us to enjoy the lives we lead today.

    Congrats on your first blog post. You done good! Real good! =)

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  19. A big thank you to "digital mechanic" Lee Reynolds, my friend from high school who has been an on-going help with tech stuff and loads of emotional support. Thanks Lee for stopping by and commenting.
    Dawn, thank you for your kind words. Yes, I'll most definitely be doing more blogs in the future. I just don't know where and when yet.
    Keli, thank you for stopping by and posting a comment. I'm so glad you found inspiration in what I wrote.
    Hugs, Debby Lee

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  20. Hi Rebecca! I tagged your blog at The Cozy Page for Versatile Blogger Award: http://amberleighwilliams.blogspot.com

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  21. Thanks, Amber!
    And thanks, Debby Lee, for coming over this past weekend!

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  22. Wow, this post was very inspiring! Thank you.

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  23. Thank you Julie for stopping by and sweet compliment on my first blog. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope you had a very wonderful holiday weekend.
    Hugs, Debby Lee

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