On holidays, we always urge people to put down their phones and enjoy some well-deserved family time. We write that everyone should take a few minutes to remember why we celebrate the holiday, but we don’t think we’ll have to do that today on the Fourth of July.

Today, we’re asking you to pick up an American flag and wave it proudly. There’s so much controversy in our world and in our country today. We’re divided by politics, our different backgrounds, different beliefs and opinions. We debate until we’re blue in the face different laws, actions, celebrities and sports figures — separating into packs of people that have like-minded opinions.

However, if there’s ever a day to forget about all that and to stick your chest out and be thankful for what we have in this country, it’s today. There are so many problems in the world, many of them keeping us up at night wondering what’ll come next, but this country has had issues before. In fact, it’s arguably hard much bigger problems that the ones we face today. It’s important to take a step back and think about what this country has overcome. The United States has been through two World Wars, the Civil War, the Cold War, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and 9/11, just to name a few infamous days in our history.

Right now, this country feels pretty divided at times, but as Americans, we need to keep it all in perspective. Regardless your views or how you feel about today’s political climate, we’ve been through 44 previous presidents — many with controversial ideas — and we’ll get through this current period and onto the next one at some point in the next four to eight years too. Whoever the next president is will bring new concerns as they implement their ideas too.

Can you imagine how the pilgrims would react if they could see the way our country looks now, as opposed to what it looked like when they first sailed over to escape religious persecution? What would the forefathers think about where we are now, 241 years after they signed The Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia? This is a time for reflection. It’s a chance to be proud of how far this country has come — the way it has moved mountains over hundreds of years to get where it is today — and to look forward to where it can still go and what can still be accomplished.  There’s still so far to go — so many issues to debate — but let’s save them for another day. For one day, let’s crank up Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA on the radio, wear our red, white and blue with pride, and thank of all the men and women who have played a part in getting us to where we are today. Take a few minutes to think about what a great country we live in.

We hope to see you out at fireworks show tonight, whether it’s at Callaway Gardens or Pyne Road Park, and we hope you’ll be wearing patriotic colors and waving an American flag high in the air.

Happy birthday America!