Today the United States celebrates Independence Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is the celebration of America and the inalienable right to freedom, a word whose very utterance fills one with tremendous pride.
This freedom was received far before such a document was created in "foul, fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy Philadelphia," however. It is a freedom which was given to us by God the Father, an act of the utmost love. We must choose to act in accord with His will and plan for us; God cannot make us love Him, though He yearns for us to freely choose His love beyond all else. This freedom, then, makes us realize how much God loves and cares for us!
In a sense, the freedom which this nation proudly waves in the form of a dream, a hope, and a reality, points to the freedom which is given to us by the Lord. There have been times, too, when in our nation's history and our own lives, we have trampled upon the very freedom which was handed down to us. We have made it a slave, not treating it with dignity; we have driven it from its original home, placing other ideals on its pedestal. And, at times, we have even burned this freedom as an expression of what we can do with our minds and bodies, regardless of the consequences. These abuses are not what the Father or fathers of our nation had intended.
And still they are given to us, day after day, without reserve. We are called to exercise this freedom rightly as a sign of our appreciation for this great gift. We are called, to ensure that all our brothers and sisters receive the same liberty as well. By helping others, we give another sign of our thanks, both to God and to the delegates who formed a new nation 233 years ago.
I love this great nation, and give thanks to God for the numerous gifts He has given us. A blessed and happy Independence Day to all!
PHOTO CREDIT: John Trumbull, Declaration of Independence
