A 4th of July Reflection

As we fire up the grill, enjoy watermelon, and gather with family under the summer sun, let’s pause to remember what we’re truly celebrating on the 4th of July.

On July 4, 1776, a brave declaration was made, thirteen American colonies claimed independence from British rule, and gave birth to a new nation. But freedom wasn’t just declared, it was fought for. From 1775 to 1783, through mud, hunger, snow, and fear, ordinary people, farmers, blacksmiths, and shopkeepers stepped forward to defend that dream. Most had no uniforms, no shoes, and little training. But they had conviction. And they paid a high price: over 25,000 Americans lost their lives in the Revolutionary War.

Freedom didn’t come cheap. And it doesn’t stay free.

We often take for granted the very things our forefathers sacrificed for: the right to speak our minds, to worship, as we choose, to assemble and protest, to bear arms, to vote, and to disagree, sometimes fiercely. That’s the thing about freedom: it allows space for all voices, not just the ones we agree with. That’s not weakness, that’s the strength of a free person.

These rights don’t cancel each other out; they challenge us to listen more attentively, speak more kindly, and carry our freedom with greater responsibility. If we only defend the rights we like, we dishonor those who died to protect them all.

So yes, enjoy your day off. Laugh. Eat. Celebrate. But also take a quiet moment to honor those who walked barefoot into battle so you could walk freely today. Let your gratitude show not just in waving a flag, but in using our freedoms wisely, with humility, courage, and respect.

Let’s not just remember history, let’s be worthy of it.

Happy Independence Day.

Remember the blind spots.

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