America likes to consider itself a meritorious country, and to a certain degree, it really is, as many people have proven in their own generation, let alone future generations, that they can become something far surpassing what their circumstances might have presupposed for them and theirs. So too, there are those that are extremely gracious in their thanking and appreciation of those that have helped them to achieve their goals and dreams, which is all to the good, and certainly demonstrates their understanding that none are able to get to where they are, without having received aid or help from the shoulders of giants that have preceded them in one way or another.
Yet, as good as this may be, and justified as it should be, there is a First Cause for everything, and that First Cause should be the One that we owe our highest duty to, and our highest appreciation of, for none of us, not a single one, could exist without our Creator, nor, could any of us, in any way, achieve anything without the very tools that have animated us onto this good earth.
Sure, there are plenty of people, that dismiss this as a fairy tale, or a myth, but all those that do so, do so because they feel the need or feel justified to glorify themselves or their viewpoint; believing, somewhat reasonably, that all that they have accomplished, all that they are, have come from their effort, their mind, their hard work, and their hard dedication. But missing from their self-justification and arrogance, is the answer to this very simple question, where did all this intelligence originate from in the very first place, for certainly even the most obtuse, recognize, that they did not create this world, themselves, and it cannot be emphasize enough, ex nihilo nihil fit.
It would be much fairer to postulate, the truth, and that truth is that all that we have, comes not from ourselves as the source of it, but from God, and the good things that we accomplish and create, come forth from the very powers that have been gifted to us by God. This signifies, that we have an obligation to give thanks and to pay homage to the One that is omniscient, omnipresent, and immutable, for by God we were created, and further all were granted free will so as to express ourselves, thereby to do what we so desire, good or evil, by choice.
It then follows that it is our choice whether we wish to show that thankfulness to God, as well as it is our choice whether to pursue after our Creator with the appropriate vigor and devotion, for the very source of the goodness that we hold so dear. For this good earth is a proving ground, in which we are tested each day, as to whether we wish to take the positive steps to embrace the warm bosom of God's love and thereby perform virtuous acts in our interactions with others, or whether we shall remain oblivious to the obvious, and do whatever, good or bad.
Those that sincerely and diligently search for God will ultimately find God, and that discovery, will lead to your reunion with our Creator, and thereby the completion of our most supreme duty which is oneness with the Word.