Isn’t it ironic that as we celebrate our freedom and independence as American citizens we are having to deal with an influx of children from Central American countries who have risked their lives in perilous journeys to share in what we celebrate.

In a sense they are not unlike the millions who set out for America in the hope of finding freedom and independence. They also risked their lives in perilous journeys and, when they arrived, faced hostility and discrimination because of their religion or ethnicity. I wonder how many of those who are so outraged at the number of children seeking refuge had ancestors who experienced the same type of unwelcome when they arrived.

It occurs to me that a special patron of these children is Jesus the immigrant, whose family fled to Egypt to protect him from terrorism of the time.

Something must be done to address the cause of this influx and make it manageable. In the meantime, we must look after these children with love and compassion and not hostility and hatred.

Let us thank God for the sacrifices of our forefathers and that we are blessed to live in a country so great that people risk life and limb to try to live here. Let us also pray that our Heavenly Father will guide our leaders, keep our men and women in the Armed Services safe and bring peace and comfort to our veterans and their families. May God always bless America!