Happy Independence Day!

Can I confess something to you? I love my country! I love its history! I love being an American!

Yes, America has made mistakes in its history, some of big and horrifying proportions. But I love being an American! I love the ingenuity of its people. I love the principles of freedom of faith that are deep in the fiber of it. For so many throughout its history America has represented a refuge for the oppressed, hope for a better future, and freedom to do what you believe is right.

Now I’m not saying my country always lives up to these lofty ideals. After all, it us up to every generation to renew such ideals and bring them forward. And evil and dishonest men can be found any and everywhere, in all walks of life, and in every nation. Still, I am proud to be an American.

But you know, I’m even more proud to say that I have citizenship somewhere else. I’m even more proud to say that American law is not the law I answer to at the end of the day. I’m much more excited that the leader of my very soul and heart isn’t the American President, but God Himself.

Today I honor my country, I honor my leaders, because it is their due. I honor the history of this land I call home. I honor those who sacrifice to see that this country remains free. I honor the civil servants who do their best to give aid and protection to us every day.

Today I honor God. I honor Him who is King above all Kings. I honor Him who holds this world in the palm of His hand. I ask Him to bless my country, to shower His grace on us, to forgive us our many shortcomings, to bring conviction in our hearts for what is right.

And today I celebrate all these things with my friends and my family. Because I love holidays so much because they are the best excuse to take time to create memories with those I love.

Happy Independence Day! Go see some fireworks!

~Joy Aletheia Stevens

Photo Credit: Fireworks by David Hepworth (CC BY 2.0)