The last of the crowd wandered back to their cars. Red, white, and blue streamers, pinwheels, stickers, and flags looked a little bedraggled as the festivities ended for the day. Tired toddlers hung onto their parents’ hands as they were half carried, half-dragged to the car. Sleepy babies snuggled in close as damp curls laid across their foreheads and thumbs hung loosely in their mouths.
This is what freedom looks like. Remnants of celebration, well-worn decorations, the last strains of patriotic music, and all floats, fire trucks, and police cars tucked in for the night. Tired and happy was the norm that day. Even parents felt the celebration was worth it. But the cost of freedom should last more than one day of the year.
It’s that time of year when we as a nation pause to celebrate freedom. The independence that came at a huge cost, but still reigns today. I was one of the people, who for years stood in the July heat on the side of neighborhood streets as floats, fire trucks, and local scout troops marched by. The occasional high school band joined in the cacophony of noise. The irony is that it is one day, once a year and that it is not nearly long enough.
Freedom is so much more than pausing mid-summer to celebrate and recognize those that sacrificed so much so we as a nation can live in democracy. It is a daily reckoning that who we are and how we live reflects the gift of this freedom. When I think back to those days with young sons standing alongside others in what I considered an act of reverence to so much loss, I find that this should mark a beginning. Not a one and done chance to celebrate patriotism and freedom.
I know I take freedom for granted. That in the middle of every day life, I expect my country to continue to stand for the rights and freedoms of its citizens. I wake up each morning ready for the day believing that my routine will continue relatively uninterrupted. It’s an assumption that as a believer I cannot hold onto without remembering the cost.
I provided my sons with an understanding of the 4th of July as they were growing up. This included an overview of freedom, but looked more like flying the flag and singing and listening to patriotic music. A sprinkling of fireworks, picnics and all the food you can eat added to the fun. I know now that who my sons and I are in Christ is the greatest gift of freedom we could ever know. It is a privilege that spans every day and is deep set into the very core of who we are and whose we are. The cost came through the Son of God and was more than any Father could bear. It was the ultimate sacrifice that led us to liberation from sin and washed us clean with God’s grace and mercy.
I am a resurrected child of God washed clean of my sin by Jesus. The cost was a life and the result was freedom in Christ that is more glorious than other other freedom I know. Romans 6 describes freedom like this:
But now, as God’s loving servants, you live in joyous freedom from the power of sin. So consider the benefits you now enjoy—you are brought deeper into the experience of true holiness that ends with eternal life (Romans 6:22 TPT)
I pray that as I celebrate the 4th of July this week I stand in the promise that freedom comes at a cost. That as I spend time with family, I am part of a bigger family that works to reflect the love of Jesus every day of the year. As flags fly and music plays, may I know without a doubt that worshiping the One who provides lifelong freedom is a gift that lets God know I am grateful. And in the middle of this holiday that comes around every year, may I recognize that God promises freedom for everyone.
Father God – You grant me a freedom that ends with eternal life. For this reason, I am able to walk as your child knowing that love, mercy, and grace are mine. You wrote your name on my heart and this gesture marked me as chosen, enough and yours. Freedom is mine because you desired for me to not only love like you, but share that love with everyone. On this day and all the days of my life, I thank you for freedom and for a life that looks like lifting others up so they may also walk in your freedom. Amen.
Blessings of freedom for all!
Here are some more posts on freedom!
Sunday Morning Always Comes – Freedom
Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash
Happy 4th Mary! laurensparks.net
Same to you, Lauren! May you feel a national as well as a soul freedom today.
Thank you for pointing me back to soul freedom even as we celebrate our nation’s freedom. I’m quick to ooh and ahhhhh at the fireworks and forget all about the soul things God brings. So grateful for both.
I was preaching to myself as I realized that the most significant freedom I have is my soul freedom. I love the fireworks and parades, but love even more that God allows us to join Him in a freedom from sin and condemnation.
Freedom does come at a cost! One that we should never take for granted 😉 Great post Mary!
Bless you,
Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer! I pray that as we understand the depth and cost of freedom we express our gratitude to God for such an amazing gift.
Your words, “Freedom comes at a cost,” are so true and reminds me of the saying “Freedom isn’t free.” I’m thankful and filled with gratitude every day for those who paid the price that our country could be free, but I’m even more thankful of being free from condemnation because Christ paid the price for my sin. What better gift could there be?
I have heard the saying “freedom isn’t free”. It makes perfect sense and brings a perspective that we need to understand about freedom so we don’t take it for granted. I agree with you that being free from condemnation is the best gift. Thank you for sharing!
Amen! Yes, the freedom we celebrate this week is only a small part of the real freedom in Christ. And…for those who live in places where there is no freedom in ways to live, walk, read, march, etc., then if we are Christians, no matter what the outside looks like, we are still free to walk with Jesus. I am grateful to live in a country where I can walk out my faith, and my life, and read the books I want, and … and… and…. Thank You, Lord for all You did for me, continue to do for me, and will do for me. Amen.
We live in a country that provides so many freedoms. Many that we take for granted because we expect them to always be available. But if we look beyond our own country we will find a different story. I pray I take time to thank God daily for my freedom in Him as well as the freedom I am granted as a citizen of the USA.
So true, the freedom we have in Christ is something we should be celebrating every day, and remembering what it cost! Hope you enjoy your 4th of July celebrations!
Thank you for being here and understanding the deep cost of freedom. Do you have any similar holidays in Scotland?
Freedom is definitely worth more than a one-day celebration. 365 days we need to be grateful for our freedom. Thanks for this, Mary! I don’t want to take freedom for granted any more than I already do.
Yes to celebrating freedom everyday of the year. I hope you find time to remember as you celebrate the 4th of July. Blessings!
Oh, I too am guilty of taking the cost of freedom for granted! Thanks for the memories (that sweet parades and celebrations with my little ones!) and for the much-needed reminder of the gift and privilege of freedoms enjoyed here in our country. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!!
I relish those summer days with my littles. Such good memories! I hope your holiday is a time to remember as well as fun family celebrations.
I so much appreciate this post on freedom and how you brought it full circle. As the wife of a veteran who served in overseas wartime conflict and was blessed to come home safely, these types of holidays are not casual. We consider those we lost or came home so differently than when they left. I am aware of the costs to families that is hard to describe as they walk through months or years of being parted while babies are born (our first was one), graduations, baseball games, recitals, family deaths, and more go on.
I think it is one of the reasons the new National Veterans Memorial Museum in Columbus that focuses on the stories versus the artifacts of veterans and their families is so powerful. I hope many see it and take time for all the ways the designers offer to experience the stories.
Military service and the cost also seems to deepen an awareness of the cost of the cross and Christ’s separation from the Father.
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you to your husband for his service. I also have family members who served and the cost is not always physical loss but so much more. I saw your posts about the National Veteran’s Museum in Columbus. It sounds worthwhile and amazing. Thank you for sharing a bit of your experience.
Beautiful message about freedom, Mary. Yes, we often take freedom in country and in Christ for granted. Forgetting how the freedom won for us spans over entire decades in America’s history and in His-story. Liberty comes at such a high cost, the thankfulness and gratefulness for such great freedom should also span over our entire life…days, week, years, and decades worth.
Growing up I was always struck by how our country won its freedom. History class made it come alive for me but even with that freedom seemed to be bigger than I realized. I pray we all understand the cost of freedom and are grateful on a daily basis.
YES!
As believers in Christ, we are free in so many ways. Thank you for words that encourage me to live in that freedom and to dwell in gratitude for the freedom that protects our land as well as the freedom that liberates my soul.
Freedom that protects our land and liberates our soul. Thank you for saying it that way. I pray we recognize freedom daily and thank God that He provides more than we deserve.
Mary, one line will be with me all week: “… freedom comes at a cost.” Indeed it does. May my heart be forever grateful.
I pray that we remember this line daily knowing that we should never take freedom for granted. May we all be grateful and take time to recognize the freedoms we have.
Good thoughts, Mary, about our national and spiritual freedoms. I thank Him for both.
Thank you, Barbara! We are unique in this country that freedom is so much more than just national. Happy 4th.