Fourth of July Celebrations

The grill is clean and the table is set in red, white and blue. The salads are made from scratch. I hate the taste of grocery store salads. I can always tell the difference. My husband and I have a system for making potato salad that is fairly pain free. I used to loathe the process but since he has learned the secret for our potato salad and has taken pride in helping, it doesn't take long at all and has all the wonderful reward of tasting like the Fourth of July. We expect some friends and my father and his wife at about four o'clock. The weather is beautiful at the moment but the forecast is for rain. We are prepared for either. Rain on our parade won't cause much discomfort or disappointment.

The neighbors across the street always burn up thousands of dollars worth of fireworks each year. They chose the evening before the holiday for their big show this year. Some friends drove over and we sat and watched the display. Our grandson climbed on the roof of the house so that his view was better. It was wonderful and satisfying. If I don't see anymore this year, it will be fine.

The Fourth of July is so special to the people of our nation. We thrill at the sight of a flag or the sound of patriotic songs at this time of year. We are soooo blessed to live in this nation. Yes, it has its problems but if one reads history, we note that it has always had problems and always will. That tendancy is because of original sin and the imperfection of people who are those that rule here and live here. There is a tenacity in the people of this nation though that no matter what they endure they come out with a fervor and a patriotic heart. I thanked God this morning for our freedom but made sure I thanked Him first for my freedom in Christ. I reminded Him (as if He needed reminding) that freedom is His idea of how people should live, spiritually and physcially.

I think back to Fourth of July holidays of the past. When I was a child, a family from the church we attended invited us for a fireworks display each year. I remember my father comment about the amount of money Milt spent on those fireworks. My dad was way too frugal to blow up his money. Milt and his wife, Marie, made homemade icecream to treat everyone that attended. Those were special times. Milt is long gone on to glory. His widow lives in the retirement center in town. I wonder if she thinks of those days long past. I think I'll call her and tell her that I remember what joy those holidays brought to me.

Many July fourth holidays have found us at the beach of some lake. We got fried and came home exhausted. We had skiied and swam and worn ourselves out. Now our children are doing the same with their children. They are having good family fun and the grandma and grandpa here pray for their safety in this day.

Happy Fourth of July to each of you. Remember to thank and praise God for our freedom and ask Him to ward off the devil's destruction in the life of this nation whether it be from without or within.