4th of July!

As you know....I love the 4th of July. It is one of those days that I look forward to all year long. But Ive been thinking a lot about why I love it so much (maybe because of the sermon we had this week) and these are some of my thoughts.

Of course there are the surfacey things that are fun....swimming, basketball, BBQ, potato sack races, dancing and the fireworks...but who we do all of these things with is really why it is fun. I love that we serve a God who has created us to "enjoy" the things He has given us but especially the relationships that He has allowed us to have. What a blessing! But as much as I do enjoy the preparations, the people and falling into bed exhausted there is more to it for me. It is seeing the things that God has given us, be used in a way to encourage others. That might sound strange but this is what I mean by that....when I look at this picture, at the families that are represented here, I see people who love the Lord, people who have loved us, but I also see people who have been through a lot. They have all had pain, struggles, heart aches, and to see them all come together to have fun & enjoy this life God has given us is really special to me. I don't want them to forget their struggles because God truly does grow us through hard times, but to see them be able to enjoy the happiness of life too, is so great! It makes me think about Heaven...how in the presence of Jesus we will have real joy, perfect relationships and fun! The 4th of July is a little piece of Heaven on earth for me and I really do thank the Lord for it. =)

You might be saying "the 4th of July is a holiday to celebrate our country" and that is true! And I so appreciate that the Lord allowed for me and for my children to be born into a country with so many freedoms, but it too makes me long for Heaven...where my one purpose, to worship Jesus, will not be clouded by "American" things. That even as "nice" as being an American is, being in Heaven with Jesus will be.....indescribable! There is always tension on this earth....I am SO thankful to be and American and yet I look forward to being taken from this place that is not my home for eternity. And I am also thankful, like I mentioned up above, for the joy we are able to experience here on earth because they too point my affections heavenward.

Bet you didn't think those were the reasons I love the 4th of July! =)