By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
The freedom we commemorate on the Fourth of July grows us in stages as we journey through life. Our appreciation deepens as we mature and become more discerning in our news consumption.
When we were children, we learned about freedom and what that meant from our parents, teachers, movies, books, and parades. In reflecting on how that celebrated freedom impacted me then, I confess my focus was more on fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, and family traditions.
Fun. Food. Entertainment.
In my teen years, the realization of war hit close to home when friends and family fought for freedom across the ocean. Some didn’t return. They paid the ultimate sacrifice. Others paid with missing limbs and debilitating memories. Those sacrifices still occur today. The definition of freedom took me back to our country’s history and the toll required then and through the years to ensure we maintained the integrity of the US Constitutionand the Bill of Rights. Those documents state and reinforce every citizen’s rights in our nation. Because of brave men and women throughout history, we have freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, speech, fair trial, and more.
Our founding fathers along with political and military leaders since then have impacted me with determination to value and respect our country’s freedoms.
My adult years continued to sober me with the awareness of how easily freedoms could be lost or eliminated. The generation behind me needed the protection of our Constitution. We might not agree on policies, decisions, and procedures, but we are united in each person’s right to share their opinions.
Now, as I look back at the many Fourth of July and freedom celebrations, I am convicted of my respect for those who have gone before me. I vow to pray for those currently and in the future for discernment and leadership. Just as we can change and grow into better people physically, mentally, and spiritually, we can deepen our appreciation for our country’s freedom.
I encourage you to read our Bill of Rights and our Constitution. Perhaps you might want to give thought to what freedom means to you and add a prayer of thankfulness.
What is your definition of freedom?
Comments 29
This was truly inspiring. All the shares and stories. I grew up in a family of military families. My father- Marine, two Army brothers and a host of uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws who served various branches. By the grace of God, & Grandmothers’ prayers they all returned home. Some continued to retirement. The biggest wounds were the mental & emotional. Wartime PTSD. We are about celebrating our uncle’s 100th birthday this July. He served in the Navy during Wartime.
These posts have been very enlightening for me and have served as a very important reminder to never forget the importance of those who have & do, put their lives on the line for our many freedoms. And for the freedom of this ‘God Blessed’ nation we are most privileged to live in. TY to all who serve & have served. God continue to Bless & protect them & this United States of America. 🙏🏼 🇺🇸 ☝🏼One Nation under Almighty God. Shalom Shalom.
Author
Rita, your comments are inspiring. What a legacy you have! God has blessed you and your family with sacrificial service and returning home to loved ones. I hope your family has sought help for mental and emotional wounds.
In God we trust – and no other.
Happy birthday to your 100 year old uncle!
My daughter and I with 5 other friends visited The Medal of Honor Museum that is in Arlington, Texas this past weekend. It was a wonderful tribute to those who risked their lives for their fellow comrades.
I had uncles that served in World War II and admired their service very much.
I had a classmate pass away in Vietnam. It really made me sad for his family.
Linda, we have shared similar experiences, sad but a part of who we are as individuals and citizens of the US. I’m putting The Medal of Honor Museum on my to-visit list. Thank you!
Barbara, I will get a copy today! Thank you for obeying God.
Wow! Thank you for this and for the encouraging words. The whole purpose of the book is to give God the glory for the great things he has done because He is so worthy of being praised.
I lost several friends in Vietnam and none of the ones who went to ‘Nam returned unchanged. Freedom is precious and costly. And I pray we never forget to thank and pray for those who fight so that we may be free.
Pat, I know exactly what you mean. It’s up to us to show why we honor those who gave their all for our freedom – and that is spiritual too.
My father in law fought in WWII. He was Navy and was on Omaha Beach on DDay. I’m thankful he came home safe and sound otherwise I wouldn’t have my wonderful husband of 44 years.
Gail, your father-in-law was a lucky man. I’ve found some can talk about the experience and others cannot. Definitely heroes.
We were in our early 20’s when my husband went to war. I stayed behind with our infant daughter. I will never forget the gallons of tears I shed in the airport as I watched his plane depart. We all rejoiced when we met again at the same airport 1 year later. I was so thankful for God’s protection and provision through a very difficult time. That experience changed my understanding of freedom. It was summed up in an inscription he brought home, Freedom has a taste the protected will never know.”
Cindy, that is a powerful story. I can only imagine how helpless you felt. Friend, I hope you’ve written this as part of your legacy.
I pray our freedoms can be preserved, and those lost and in danger can return. I remember teachers praying at school, we said the Pledge of Alligience, and we learned the true history of America. My granddaughter doesn’t even learn history at school. I buy her books about our founders so she can know how we are a nation. May we never stop standing for our rights.
Author
Barbara, like our faith, parents must teach their children history. Our founding fathers understood the price of freedom, and we must pass it on.
Thank you for your thoughts. I am in agreement, and will add my prayers to yours. I am deeply concerned about the direction our country is headed and for my granddaughters, who may lose the freedoms my generation fought for.
Author
Connie, the best legacy we can leave to our children and grandchildren is our faith and our values of freedom-loving people.
Thank YOU dear LORD for all the men and women who fought to keep our dear America FREE and SAFE from all the evil Ones. That includes my Father and 2 Brothers.
PLEASE give us Leaders in America who will do what is necessary to continue our freedom….Thank You LORD.
Author
Vonda, thank you for your prayerful words. The evil one seeks to destroy us, but he’s already lost.
A fought for gift allowing me to worship as I please, say and write what I believe and make choices other countries can’t. Freedom in Christ comes with some boundaries…truth is freedom.
Author
Elizabeth, thank you. Your last statement is a keeper: truth is freedom. Hav a blessed 4th of July.
DiAnn, thank you for bringing our freedom front and center, starting from childhood up to the present. I walked with you as a child being raised in Indiana. Patriotism was huge, and my first cousin, once-removed, didn’t come back from the Army. I remember the outside service for him, the 21-Gun Salute, and the folding of the flag and a soldier in uniform handing it to his wife. I knew this was “serious business” and I knew he had died, but the heaviness didn’t hit me until each year that went by made me realize that we had the same DNA and that made a big difference. He left two younger-than-I children, who grew up as my friends, so the memory of the 21-Gun Salute was ever present. The older I get, the more I realize . . . I will see him again on heaven’s shore. Freedom isn’t free. It is paid for by others so we can know, enjoy and love the freedom of living in AMERICA, sweet land of liberty.
Author
Sandra, your words moved me, especially in a country where so many freedoms are taken for granted. I hope you never forget your cousin. I value your ending: “Freedom isn’t free. It is paid for by others so we can know, enjoy and love the freedom of living in AMERICA, sweet land of liberty.” Thank you.
Freedom back then was flying the flag and celebrating with a good old fashioned picnic, then end the day with watching fireworks as a family. As a child I didn’t fully understand how my dad participated in WWII and my mom was a Rosie the Riveter helping make parachutes. Oh The innocence of childhood. As we grow up and wars continue, husbands ,sons and daughters serve our country – for our freedom. One nation under God. We will always be prayerfully thankful. I know I am. I’m a proud American who has freedom to worship God and salute our flag. God bless America.
Thank you DiAnn for reinforcing the beliefs so many of us have and how very important our freedom truly is. And a huge thank you to all our service members, past , present and future.
Amen!
Author
Joyce, your words of patriotism and faith are why so many give their lives for freedom—be it spiritual, physical, and sometimes mental. Thank you so much. One nation under God.
Freedom is such a powerful gift. Having traveled to and taught in many communist countries where I was specifically told not to share anything religious, I learned just how precious religious freedom was and is. Besides copying various Scriptures randomly throughout my travel journals and teaching materials, I also included little drawings of American flags. I also said my heartfelt goodbyes to my husband who was not able to go with me. We both knew the risks of my possibly not returning. Flying back into the country and seeing huge American flags waving from flagpoles is one of the best feelings in the world.
In one communist country where I was absolutely forbidden to share anything religious, God won. During a university class one day, a student said, “We heard there are songs in the Bible, will you sing some of them for us?” I looked at the professor and asked if I was allowed to do this. She said, “It’s your class do whatever you want.” So, in a communist classroom filled with university students, I sang Scripture sings. We take so much for granted and often people banned from hearing the gospel, get a taste of freedom in the strangest ways. Freedom is being grateful for this precious gift.
Author
Barbara, what an incredible story. Thank you for sharing. Your words are what create legacies for the next generation. God works in ways we never expect. Were you a missionary? Teacher? Military?
Yes, to missionary and teacher. I had planned to be a career missionary and had seven years of training, but God closed the door. I was crushed at first. Instead, He allowed me to have a career of short-term mission trips, so I could come back and tell and others could go.
Barbara, an amazing story. I hope you’ve written your experiences for others to read.
Thanks DiAnn. I actually published my first book in late December, titled Suppose I Hadn’t Listened.
It has 40 short stories of various mission trips overseas and how God stepped in and miracles happened. Included are color photos and a few recipes and also four stories just for fun at the end. It doesn’t cover all the countries, but includes Israel, Africa, Moldova, Russia and Hungary.