By Gina Caswell Kelly
I love this country so very much. I cannot imagine living anywhere else in the world! It is truly, in my mind, the greatest country on earth. And we celebrate that each day as we live in freedom. And we do live in freedom. Make no mistake about it. In this country, protests are allowed. In many countries, they are not. In this country, we are allowed to not salute the flag when the National Anthem is played. In many countries, you would be shot for that. And I will throw this in, it just breaks my heart when I see those who choose not to salute the flag standing with their heads down, as if they are ashamed. It burns me, but the truth is that my daddy fought so they would have that right. That is freedom.
But, honestly, this country, as great as I truly believe it is, this country is not my home. I am just passing through. We, as God’s kids, as those who have put our trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, we are just passing through, waiting on our heavenly home. What joy that thought brings! I love the idea of being in heaven one day. I love the idea of, as it says in the Psalms, “being fully satisfied when I awake and see Your face.” Seeing the face of Jesus one day in heaven. Seeing all those who have gone before me. Seeing and sitting at the feet of God! Oh my goodness! Like the song says, “I can only imagine what that day will be!”
While we are here on this earth, we all have jobs to do. We all have been created for a purpose. Even more than one purpose. God put you here for a reason. And that reason is to make a difference wherever you are. We are called to be His servants here on earth. We are called to be ones that others can look at and get a glimpse of Him. Our lives should be a mirror reflecting only God’s love each and every day. Oh, I know, sometimes our mirrors can grow a bit dirty. But God’s cloth of forgiveness and grace can wipe that mirror clean so the reflection is once again, that of our Heavenly Father.
What is your life reflecting today? Are you reflecting God’s love? Are you reflecting the true freedom that comes from handing you life wholly and completely over to Him? My goodness! What joy comes with that kind of freedom! Knowing that your life is in the hands of the Savior and that those very hands will carry you home one day!
As you celebrate our nation this weekend and all the freedoms we have, take some time to bow your head and thank God for the freedom we have in Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. He made all the difference!
