Shortly after the September 11, 2001, a fellow Sunday School class member noted that the tragedy had brought a sudden renewed popularity of Irving Berlin’s great song, “God Bless America.” I responded that we ought to be singing “God has blessed America.” Knowing that I am sometimes inspired to rhyme, she suggested I write one to that effect. I told her I wrote only by inspiration, and I didn’t feel the least bit inspired at that moment. Apparently struck by a lightning bolt of inspiration along the way, I had enough lines by the time I got home to have a good start on the following verses:
GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA
“God Bless America,”
Expressed in song, for decades long
Has been our earnest plea;
Should not our song, in voices strong,
To Him unceasing be,
“God Has Blessed America,”
And sung from bended knee?
This Land we love is not
By accident, but Heaven-sent,
Its frame God did ordain;
His hand’s imprint is evident
In coast and hill and plain;
God has blessed America;
Let this be our refrain.
He has stood beside us,
In every fight with arms and might
And wit not ours alone;
From Heaven’s height He’s seen our plight
And made our cause His own;
God has blessed America;
Let us this truth make known.
With light from above,
He lets us see the liberty
His truths applied obtained;
He’s kept us free of tyranny,
And fear has never reigned;
God has blessed America;
Let praise be unrestrained.
There is no sweeter home;
Should not we raise our songs in praise
Of His unfailing care
And for the ways He fills our days
With gifts beyond compare?
God has blessed America;
Our thanks we should declare.
How dare we ask for more;
Have we forgot our envied lot
As God’s most favored land
And notice not that all we’ve got
Was given from His hand?
God has blessed America—
Why can’t we understand?