Today is Independence Day, for those living in the United States. John Adams wanted July 2nd to be the official start of our nation since the Declaration of Independence was ratified on July 2, 1776. Here is what he said;
“[Independence Day] will be the most memorable Epoch, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,”
What words come to your mind when you hear, "The Fourth of July?" Fireworks, ice cream, parades, cook outs, etc. Probably few of us think of "sacrifice." Yet without it our nation would not have come into existence.
Someone in our family's past sacrificed for us to have a free America. Who was it for you? We are a land of immigrants. Some, like myself, had people here from the beginning. My 10th great grandparents came over on the Mayflower in 1620 and my 5th great grandfather William P. Johnston, fought in the Revolutionary War. Some may be newcomers to our country. Maybe you are the one who sacrificed for your family. The problem, it's not a "One-and-Done." Once our freedoms were established, we have to keep fighting to protect those freedoms.
The Founding Fathers disagreed on many things, but they knew compromises were needed to see the work of freedom happen. Our nation has revealed growing pains through the years. With those pains have come division (just look at the Civil War). Siblings can have some painful fights, but if an outsider threatens, they pull together. We saw this in most of our wars and even 9/11.
In 1858 when Abraham Lincoln was running for the U.S. Senate, he gave his "House Divided Speech. In it he said, in part, "A house divided against itself, cannot stand," in reference to Jesus' words in the Bible.
In many ways, we are divided today, at least if you read social media and the news. Personally, I don't think the division is as bad as it appears, but it is divided. If the divide gets too large, our "house" will fall. With that in mind, what are you willing to sacrifice to save this great nation?
