Independence Day Thoughts

This past weekend at church, I was standing in the line for our potluck lunch, waiting for my turn to dish out a burrito. Behind me was an older lady who has been attending our church for the past year. I noticed she was wearing a shirt designed to look like the American flag, and a red, white and blue apple watch band to match.

"Oh I like your watch band!" I said, attempting to start a conversation.

She beamed at me. "Thank you! This is my favorite time of the year."

I smiled back and we both moved on. But on the way home, I couldn't stop thinking about how she proudly announced that the 4th of July was her favorite part of the year.

It felt strange. July 4th isn't like Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or even Easter. It's not something that we all look forward to and plan the moment the seasons change. In some ways, it doesn't really even feel like a holiday. Just a day off work that gives people the opportunity for a cookout. Oh, and also fireworks!

So is it even important to celebrate July 4th?

July 4th, 1776, is historically the day that the American Continental Congress revised and signed the Declaration of Independence, declaring the North American colonies separate and free from Great Britan. Prior to the Declaration of Independence, Britan had raised taxes on the colonists to an exorbitant amount in order to pay expenses from the French and Indian War.

Sadly, the Declaration of Independence was not peacefully received, and sparked a historic, bloody war on American soil that would last until 1783. When Britan finally surrendered their hold on the American colonies, many of the founding fathers saw it as a miracle straight from Heaven.

Today, we see the 4th of July as a hot, summer day that gives us an excuse to be rowdy and have a mini holiday with our families. But what if we viewed it more like a preview of Thanksgiving?

It's hard for us to fully grasp the passion our founding fathers had for liberty and freedom. We take the liberties our country gives us for granted and tend to forget the brave men and women who have died for the rights we have. And yet, when we look around, there are so many things we enjoy that would not be possible without the Declaration of Independence.

The freedom to wake up on a Sunday morning and go to a church of your choosing. The right to purchase a firearm to defend your home with. The right to go and peacefully protest a political action outside your local courthouse. Even just the right to say whatever you want online or in person and criticize whatever political leaders you choose to. All of these things are things that our ancestors bled and died for, and I think we abuse these rights more often than we should.

What if we paused and took a moment to thank God for all the wonderful things he has brought our country through?

The events of the Revolutionary War are nothing short of miraculous. God's fingerprints can be found all over the battles and our founding fathers, as He shielded and guided them to the formation of our proud country. And the fact that we were born on American soil is a testament to God's providence too- he has placed us in this country for a reason.

I, for one, don't want to take that for granted. ♥

The lady at my church who unknowingly caused all of these thought processes in me is married to a U.S military veteran. Multiple of her children have also sacrificed their traditional lifestyles to serve in the Army. For her, being thankful for her freedoms is a daily act. When she says the 4th of July is her favorite time of the year, she means that very literally.

I'm not writing all of this to be a killjoy, or to tell you that fireworks and smoke bombs and Jello are all sinful. In fact, I'm actually advocating for the opposite! My family is eagerly planning our bonfire and cookout. We'll watch fireworks that weekend, have our cousins over, run around with a frisbee in the backyard, listen to old country music and create our own wildly chaotic brand of patriotism.

I'm merely sharing my thoughts because in the midst of throwing pop-its on the driveway or running through the yard with a sparkler, we should also turn our thoughts to the Lord and thank Him immensely for His deliverance for our country. He placed us here for a reason, and He has also given us more rights than we deserve.

Being an American isn't always fun, and it's also very easy to be frustrated with the state of our country. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be thankful for the freedoms we do have, and the brave men and women who gave up their lives for our liberty. If our founding fathers were willing to die for what they considered essential rights, I think the least we can do is honor their sacrifice and thank our God, who delivered us through several wars and has preserved our country for over 200 years.

So this week, go out and have an absolute blast. Throw water-balloons, grill chicken, write in the air with sparklers, marvel at the fireworks.... and don't forget to thank the Lord for His mighty hand over our country. ♥

Love,

-Mira

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