Today we celebrate the Fourth of July. Do you have a fun day planned?
Recently we had some family visiting; which is always a joy. But for the most part I spend my days doing ordinary things. Today may not look much different to the naked eye. Hardly thrill-seeking stuff.
When you have received so much that requires upkeep, I encourage you to feel fortunate. Not everyone has a home with a full pantry, a laundry room and a working vacuum.
Listening to news reports of the unrest worldwide can be a downer. If you feel as though we are losing freedom; that the rules of law seem to change daily. I will share what I recently read. We have the following freedoms:
To express love.
To feel at peace.
To practice patience.
To show kindness.
To live out goodness.
To exercise faithfulness.
To be gentle with others.
To demonstrate self-control.
I cannot take the credit for this list, it can be found in our Good Book; in Galatians 5:22,23. Taking it one step further, the book reads that these freedoms are just that, free. There is no law against any of them. Imagine!
The problem is not everyone is lovely, at peace, kind, good, or gentle. It’s a challenge to be patient with those who don’t trust you and have zero self-control. Welcome to Jesus’ world. Yet the above is exactly what he is doing with me, and possibly you too.
No where will you find that life on planet earth is easy. The world we live in only makes us hungry for a better life. No problem there, right?
To attempt even one of these freedoms is a challenge worth taking. We may never know what someone else is going through. I think it was an Indian that said walking a mile in his moccasins can change our perspective.
I’m thinking it would be hard to not reciprocate the kindness or goodness lavished on me. Someone once said smiling is contagious, we automatically smile back when even a stranger lays one on us. And hugs don’t cost a cent, yet can warm even the hardest heart.
But it doesn’t stop here. The Good Book says in trying to follow these freedoms, we will be blessed ourselves. Who among us couldn’t use a little heavenly perk?
Have a Happy, safe and maybe a challenging fourth of July!
One Day Wonders with JBK 