What can you expect? Straight talk, laughable humor, real truth, simple living, and passionate yearning...
all regarding the God that still involves Himself in the details of the lives of His people
A calling to write what He leads, no matter how uncomfortable...
Because simple daily Christian living is never what we thought it would be
This week, as I plan the family 4th activities, a couple of questions entered my mind. Do we celebrate this day in a way that pays tribute to its roots? Do we pass on the story of our heritage with an honor equal to its cost? As I watch my children run around with bright colored sparklers, do I take time to tell them of the bravery and sacrifice this holiday represents?
Red, White, and Blue...with Purple Feet
Red, White, and Blue…with Purple Feet
I grew up with purple feet…stained from always being bare-footed and walking through the sun ripened mulberries which constantly fell from our favorite tree. To me, purple feet is as much a part of summer as is swimming, playing on top of the barn, the cling-clang of horse shoes, and, of course…the 4th of July family celebration. Good times; really, really good memories.
This week, as I plan the family 4th activities, a couple of questions entered my mind. Do we celebrate this day in a way that pays tribute to its roots? Do we pass on the story of our heritage with an honor equal to its cost? As I watch my children run around with bright colored sparklers, do I take time to tell them of the bravery and sacrifice this holiday represents?
Ashamedly…no, I do not.
Maybe what we do is “Rabbit trailing”. You understand this concept of when someone starts with one thought or assignments but then is distracted by something similar, and from there another deviation, until the beginning of the thing and the end of the thing barely seem related. Consider the example of housework. Have you ever started on the kitchen, but in the kitchen were items that needed to be put in the laundry, so off to that room you went. Then when arriving in the laundry it was perfectly obvious that folded piles needed putting away, so darting here and there was required. Until after 2 to 3 hours and complete exhaustion you sat down in the family room, only to realize what you had completed was nothing to do with the intention you had begun. All the work along the way was good…and much of it very necessary…yet somehow you were completely off task. Holidays…and our celebrations today…seem to be rabbit trails.
Do we spend any time passing down the American story that should be so precious to each of us?
Or, do we take our freedom for granted and celebrate the day and not the cause?
What things could we do in a fun family day that would reinforce the knowledge of our country’s great past?
I put this question to friends and here are some ideas
* Memories could be retold, especially from those who served our country in the armed forces or medical support of those forces
* A discussion could be held rekindling all the facts and dates of our country’s birth, leading people, and significant places (if your family is a debating one, then maybe you should just have your third graders make a listed presentation)
* Reenactment (okay…I have to admit that when considering my family, this one scares me…the visions this could leave with our young ones is startling)
* A sing-a-long of old patriotic and gospel hymns (way-far-back these two were very similar and that speaks for itself)
* A public prayer of thanksgiving just before the night’s fireworks begin
* Watch the movie “1776”
I honestly was surprised at how many suggestions the group could rattle off so quickly…and yet each of us had to admit that we usually do very little to pass on the flame of our glorious history.
So this year I have decided to make two attempts.
1) I am going to show the younger ones in the group my Centennial coins and tell them of that day. I’m going to pass on the pride I felt being part of those celebrations. I’m going to show them the phrase “In God We Trust” and help them to see our country as a faithful and obedient group of Christians. And I’m going to be ready for their questions…the hard questions about why we no longer seem to fit that description.
2) And, I’m going to tell the story of my Sister-in-Christ Brenda. How my son and her son were almost the same age. How my son is still here to hop and skip around and draw his name in the air like a child with a glowing sparkler…and her son left to protect what America…what Christendom stands for…and his childish face and sparkler written name can only be seen in the fading memories or her heart.
I grew up with a stain on my feet that was almost impossible to remove. Likewise I want to stain the thoughts of the next generation. I want them to see the heritage of Christianity in the early development of this country. I want them to understand who the great patriots were and why they had the strength to stand so strong. I want them to see the validity and moral values in the acts and laws of our young nation…so that they can see for themselves the nonsense wrapped up in their political futures. Yep! It’s decided. This year our family’s 4th of July will include some serious staining.
In obedience
Rhonda D Loucks