Please remember that this post is always for gratitude. No political thoughts or commentary. Feel free to private message me if you have political comments or thoughts.
This image is from Peoria's "Red, White and BOOM!" celebration. It has been a long standing tradition with the Smiths, Leanders and some of the Roth family. It is a day of portable games, summer friendly snacks, carnival food, entertainment (some planned and some unplanned), family(and friends who are family) and fellowship.
I have a patriotic heart. I always have. I was young at our Bi-Centennial in 1976 and impressionable. Sometimes, I forget the youthful age of this nation we call home. Those who came longed for freedom. They longed for opportunity. This land was huge, wild and unforgiving at times. They came with excitement, determination, big ideas and bigger dreams. Many came with not much more than their clothes.
Mama Ina Mae always said she had a Native American great- great grandmother. It bothered her that their land was stolen. We were raised to look for what we could learn from others with different backgrounds and experiences. Mama was always reading about Native American treatments for illness and injury. She taught us that people are better together. Our differences can make us stronger or they can divide us. Core values are key, but there are places where compromise when we are in relationships. This is true for families, communities and in the workplace, too.
How do we figure it out? I find this scriptures to be key:
"And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 22:37-40
This is how we get it "right". We can't undo our past wrongs or anyone else's. We can only move forward chasing God's heart and loving our neighbor better. A collection of wrongs can't be righted... only Jesus has the power to do that.
"for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." -Hebrews 9:26
Freedom! True freedom through His grace and forgiveness. True freedom through relationship with Him. The echoes of the freedom we know because of His sacrifice should be celebrated daily! Do we walk in freedom and with gratitude? Do we chase His heart and does our love for others show up in our daily walk and talk?
We are not perfect people, but we are free people. Our freedom required a sacrifice.
Today, our nation celebrates the high cost of freedom. It isn't just a birthday party with burgers and hot dogs. From a rebel army dressed in rags into a nation that has had great moments and not so great moments, We are still free. We included our Creator in our founding documents. Let us not forget Him now.
Sometimes, freedom requires a sacrifice. Our response to sacrifice should be gratitude. Say an extra prayer for our military today.
Today, I am grateful for the echoes of freedom.
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