Freedom. It wasn’t something we had to think about when we were young. Freedom was playing with your friends down the street and being home in time for dinner. Free to play. Free to just be.

We learned in school what freedom meant in terms of our country. July 4th. Independence Day. A celebration of what we gained from those who went before us. Fireworks. A free nation. Under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all.

As the years went on, freedom became something different. More like a representation of what we didn’t have. Responsibilities now weighed us down, and stole our “free” time away. You couldn’t just play anymore. You couldn’t just be. Schedules took over. Lives became busy. Too busy. Nobody thought much about what freedom meant. Until it was taken away.

Now the threat looms. Those who would choose to steal our freedom are in the background, planning their next attack.  It’s scary. It’s real. It’s too close for comfort.

How can we handle this?

I am choosing to stay in the day, in the moment. If I dwell on the fear, it will destroy what is good, what I have right now. I want to spend each day aware of the gift I have of living in this great land. Getting up each morning and thanking God for one more day. Whatever it brings.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds. I cling to the one who freed me in the most meaningful of freedoms there is. His arms outstretched. Persecuted. Flogged. Ridiculed. Nailed. Killed in a brutal way. He gave it all, took it all on himself, that I might be set free. Reconciled with God. For eternity.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV)

Step into the freedom he calls you to.

Happy Fourth!

-Carolyn

“Life isn’t easy. Together we can make it better.”