250 Years, A Heart Full of Gratitude
Today, our nation celebrates 250 years.
Two hundred and fifty years of courage and sacrifice. Of victories and failures. Of hope and heartbreak. Of God’s grace through it all.
As I think about today, I find myself less focused on the fireworks and more focused on gratitude.
I’m thankful for the men and women who have served and sacrificed so families like mine can gather together. Every one of our grandfathers served our country. Because of the sacrifices of so many, my family gathered just the other night to laugh, share a meal, and simply enjoy being together. Today we gathered around the pool, fired up the grill, watched our granddaughter play in the pool, and made memories together.
Tomorrow, just like every Sunday, we’ll walk into church and worship freely.
We’ve built our lives around freedoms that are so woven into our everyday routines that we often forget they came at a great cost. The freedom to worship. The freedom to open God’s Word. The freedom to speak about our faith without fear. Those are incredible gifts, and maybe we should stop more often to remember that.
Our nation has never been perfect, and neither are we. But I believe gratitude can exist alongside humility. We can celebrate the blessings we’ve been given while praying that God continues to shape us into the people, and the nation, He calls us to be.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)
The older I get, the more I realize that freedom is far more than a word we learned in a history book.
As followers of Christ, I know our greatest hope isn’t found in a flag or a government. Our hope rests in Jesus alone.
Still, I am deeply thankful to live in a country where I can open my Bible without fear, share the Gospel boldly, teach children about Jesus, and raise my family knowing we don’t have to hide the One we love.
I’ve also learned that sometimes sharing Jesus isn’t only found in the words we speak. It’s found in the way we live. It’s how we love the neighbor across the street, the cashier working on a holiday, the server bringing our meal, the family at the park, or the stranger who simply needs kindness. The Gospel is often seen before it’s heard.
So today, I’ll enjoy the laughter, the family, the good food, and yes, the fireworks. (Although Milo, our granddog that I’m dog-sitting, would probably vote to skip those!)
But before the day is over, I’ll pause to thank God for His faithfulness through every generation. I’ll thank Him for those who sacrificed so we could enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted. And I’ll pray that He continues to guide our nation with truth, mercy, wisdom, and grace.
Happy 250th Birthday, America. 🇺🇸❤️
May we cherish the freedoms we’ve inherited, steward them well, and never forget the God from whom every good and perfect gift comes.