Flag Day | JOY for Today

(Updated 6/2/2023)

Flags symbolize belonging. They announce in colors and symbols the values and traditions of the people who fly them. When you see your flag waving in unfamiliar territory, it communicates security and like-mindedness. Belonging. Community. Shared Values. Common Purpose. These sound like ingredients in a recipe for JOY to me. 

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... One we knew; four we didn't.
• Wolfe Stew Connects To the banner over me.
• Bible Verses and Quotes Inspired by flags.
• Activity Suggestions Crafts, games, food, history, "Would you rather...?", and family challenge.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS:

• Father's Day (June's Third Sunday)
• Forgiveness Day (June 26th Annually)
• Independence Day (July 4th Annually)

Did You Know:

1. Our flag was officially adopted June 14, 1777 by the Second Continental Congress? See alternate designs at USHistory.org.
2. It took 135 years for our flag to be standardized? Until 1912, stars were arranged differently in varying proportion. (USHistory.org)
3. George Washington rejected any flag similar to the British flag? Fighting under a banner that resembled your enemy was not a great confidence booster. (History.com)
4. The stars on the flag represent a new constellation? And the new constellation represented the birth of a new nation. Originally our flag had 13 stripes and 13 stars, but as our nation grew, so did the number of stars. Additional stripes were also added until we reached 15 states, after that we only added stars to our flag. (History.com)
5. Historians contest Betsy Ross as the original flag creator? They agree that Betsy was indeed a skilled seamstress who aided Revolutionary War efforts by mending tents and sewing uniforms. The claim that she created the flag emerged 100 years later by her grandson, casting speculation on the claim. Furthermore, no irrefutable evidence exists that names her as the creator. However, a paper cut five-pointed star and numerous witness accounts do suggest her involvement in its design. (History.com & USHistory.org)

We'd Love to Know:

Which of these facts shocked you most?

Wolfe Stew Connects

Admittedly, I tear up whenever I join an assembly gathered under our country's flag singing the "Star Spangled Banner," pledging allegiance, or bidding farewell to military troops. I am proud to be an American. In this country, we honor and defend the right of people to be individuals. We encourage each other to achieve. We make possibilities possible. When I see our flag, I'm reminded of what America means to me, and it makes me want to be a better citizen. Considering all the flag stands for, the Mr. urges you to protect our flag, not burn it.

 

Likely, the American flag is not the only flag that represents you. There are flags for families, for organizations, and for shared values.

Might a flag help in our walk with Christ, too? Imagine if a flag flew over our head reminding us of who and whose we are? According to Song of Solomon 2:4, it is there: His banner over us is love. Imagine that. Everywhere you go, you fly a flag of love. Seeing this might empower us to change some of our choices:

• I simply do not have the patience to listen to how horrible his day was right now. I just can't, not with everything that's going on in my head. But wait, His banner over me is love. I can listen.
• She just insulted the very core of who I am. How can I extend kindness to her? Then I envision God's flag of love waving over my head and remember, I can be kind.
• How could I possibly be happy with my life circumstances right now? My sister just closed on an incredible house while I'm stuck cleaning mildew off the bathroom walls in my rented apartment. Wait. I see that flag. God chose me to represent love on this earth. I'll clean that mildew with contentment, because I have walls to clean and a God who chose me to love well.

And this banner of love you march under, Soldier, is a banner of victory. March in triumph: the war is already won! (I John 5:4)

To help you envision that banner of love, try to see from God's perspective. If you need practice developing this battle skill, we've crafted a GROWTH for Today calendar with short, but impactful, exercises for precisely this purpose: to help us SEE what is true. Enlist today. We need you in the fight, Warrior!

We'd Love to Know:

What color you think God's banner of love is.

Bible Verses and Quotes to Inspire

Verses

• "Then Moses constructed an altar and called it, "The Eternal is my Battle Flag." Exodus 17:15 VOICE
• "You have given your loyal followers a rallying flag, so that they might seek safety from the bow. (Selah)" Psalm 60:4 NET
• "We will sing for JOY when you win. In the name of our God we will lift up our flags. May the Lord give you all the things you ask Him for." Psalm 20:5 NLV
• "The Israelites will make their camps in separate divisions, each man near his family flag." - Numbers 1:52 ICB
• "He placed me at his banquet table, for everyone to see that his banner over me declares his love." - Song of Solomon 2:4 VOICE

Quotes

• "Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be." -John Wayne
• "Our flag is our national ensign, pure and simple, behold it! Listen to it! Every star has a tongue, every stripe is articulate." - Robert C. Winthrop
• "The American flag represents all of us and all the values we hold sacred." - Adrian Cronauer
• "When we honor our flag, we honor what we stand for as a Nation - - freedom, equality, justice, and hope." -Ronald Reagan
• "Imagine what our country could accomplish if we started working together as one people under one God saluting one American flag." - Donald Trump

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote would you fly high?

Activity Suggestions

Show your American flag appreciation with one (or two) of the activities below.

Our Nephew's Suggestion

Put a flag in your yard, even if it's one they hand out at parades (like his flag in the picture above) or one you colored. (We like this simple, full-page coloring sheet from KinderArt.)

Our Suggestions

• Play Capture the Flag
• Virtually with discord or Google
• Outdoors with a large group of people (Check out Very Well Family's How-To Guide to make sure everyone plays by the same rules.)
• Eat Flag Inspired Food
• Taco Salad from Family Fresh Meals
• Easy Flag Dessert from Family Fresh Meals (We've made a version of this one for Fourth of July. Choose your favorite red fruit, blueberries, and yogurt-coated pretzels. Then, arrange them like a flag on a large platter or cookie sheet. Dessert, done.)
• Make a Flag Craft
• Paper Chain Flag with Education.com
• Fourth of July Lantern with DLTK Kids
• Learn Flag History while following directions with Peanut Butter Fish Lessons. Includes FIVE ACTIVITES with a preschool option. 

Would You Rather...

• Make an American Flag out of popsicle sticks or egg cartons?
• Learn our flag's history or etiquette?
• Play capture the flag or flag football?

If you would like three "Would You Rather...?" questions for every June day, download this Wolfe Stew PowerPoint. 

Family Challenge

Work together to design a family flag. Use symbols and colors that reflect your family values.

We'd Love to Know: 

Do you typically celebrate Flag Day, or do you wave as it passes by?

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. Join us next time for...Father's Day.

Fighting the Good Fight with You,

Sample these related posts:

Where can I find engaging American flag history activities?
Why should I be proud to be an American?

Why would I want a flag of love flying over me?
How could love change the world?
Why do I need community?

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.