Happy 4th of July! Who doesn’t love a summer day off? I know I sure appreciate the little break in the middle of a busy week. It’s a nice opportunity to take a breather and just “be” for a change. I am taking full advantage of the free day to enjoy home and do some of the things I love (i.e. work out, spend time with God, drink coffee and watch the Today show in my pjs, journal and blog, read, craft…and REST above all). Days like this are so good for my soul.
But today is more than just a day off from the normal routine of life. As great as that is, today is really about reflecting on the blessing of freedom. As a Christian, a citizen of the United States of America, a woman/ wife/daughter/friend, a social worker, and a runner, freedom has many connotations. In my life, freedom is expressed by living out loud in the love and grace of my God, having the right to vote, make decisions, and play a productive role in society, being valued and accepted for who I am and where I am on my personal journey, advocating for social justice, and traversing the open road with nothing but time, energy, and strength to keep going the distance. To experience freedom is incredible and life-giving. I am humbled as I realize that I too often take my freedom for granted when there are so many people around the world who are in pursuit of the kind of freedom I (we) have here. I do not want to take my freedom lightly. I know it is a gift, a true treasure in this wild and challenging world.
Today I praise God for the freedom I have in Him, and for the freedom I have in this country because of the courageous men and women who have sacrified their lives to defend ours. Happy Independence Day!
I am free to run,
I am free to dance,
I am free to live for You,
I am free.
—I Am Free, Newsboys