Freedom!

I love the 4th of July. I inherited my love of all things patriotic from my dad, who always hung the flag and played our record full of wonderful old patriotic songs every year on Independence Day. And also from my maternal grandfather, who was an attorney in a small town and had a flagpole in his yard. What a privilege as a grandchild to be old enough to be entrusted with hanging the flag in the morning or bringing it in and folding it in the evening, always in the traditional triangular fold.

But as much as my heart quickens when I hear The Stars and Stripes Forever or the Armed Forces Medley, and as thankful as I am to live in the USA, and as much as I appreciate and honor the sacrifices made by those who have given their lives in service to our country as well as those who still serve today, my hope is not in the freedoms delineated in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

For there is a freedom that far exceeds that which any government can bestow. In fact, there are folks who live in countries ruled by brutal dictators who know this freedom and are actually freer than those here in the USA who refuse to accept this freedom. I speak, of course, of the freedom found in Christ.

As we celebrate today, may we not forget the Source of true freedom.

If the Son shall make you free,
you shall be free indeed.
John 8:36

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves
be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1

This has absolutely become one of my favorite songs for any patriotic holiday.

Let freedom ring down through the ages
from a hill called Calvary
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets
where prisons have no key
You can be free and you can sing
Let freedom ring

Have a wonderful 4th of July!