Belong

“I would rather belong to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased to be in love with liberty.”
--Woodrow Wilson

BELONG: to be the appropriate accompaniment, to pertain or concern; to be the property or rightful possession of.

Belong descends from a long and noble lineage, one of the more ancient Old English words, made of BI (about) + LANG (shortened form of GELANG, as in a measure). "Bilang" had its original meaning in the idea that just as something was equally long, corresponding in length, belong gets at running alongside of, parallel to, going along with, accompanying as a property or attribute.

So it has always meant that something is appropriate because it matches, it fits; hence Joseph Addison's description in 1712: "Grief has a natural eloquence belonging to it, and breaks out in more moving sentiments than can be supplied by the finest imagination." Indeed.

Wilson's quote above is particularly meaningful given the financial troubles lately. To whom do we belong? And does that give you comfort?

As for me, my only comfort in life and in death
is that "I am not my own, but belong--
body and soul, in life and in death--
to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my heavenly Father.
In fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him,
Christ, by His Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him."

The Heidelberg Catechism, written 1563