This time of the year is finally here. The Fourth of July, where we celebrate our nation’s independence with cookouts and fireworks. It is a fun holiday, in the middle of the summer, warm weather where we gather with friends and family at the local park, at the local rodeo arena, or in our backyards just to enjoy our time together. With all the excitement, emotions, and celebration we sometimes overlook the reason we are celebrating at all.
The Fourth of July holds so much more meaning. It goes all the way back to the Thirteen Colonies with an “idea” that was brought with the Colonist from distant lands that would give them “freedom” to worship their God without persecution. Freedom is something that not everyone has access to, and we are fortunate to live in a country where people are free.
Although Independence Day is not a religious holiday like Christmas or Easter however, it would be a major oversight not to reflect on God’s goodness and influence on us as a nation. Etched in the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, which is a symbol of our liberty, are the words from the bible “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants there of” (Leviticus 25:10 KJV). In God We Trust is printed on our money. Our legal system reflects our Judeo-Christian roots.
Our independence did not come easy, wars were fought, blood was shed, however, our forebears were determined to establish a free and democratic system of government. The Declaration of Independence together with our Constitution and the Bill of Rights became the foundation of our liberty. These documents ensured we are free today. On the “Fourth of July” we give thanks for the wisdom, faith and courage of our freedom fighters which gave us America.
Our celebration on this day memorializes our struggle for independence. It symbolizes much more than just getting together with family and friends. It stands for the blood, sweat, and tears that went into our freedom. These brave men went into battle against a superior force with “faith” in God and an “idea” that was used to defeat the enemy, and America was born. These people defined what it means to be an American and built our government from the ground up.
Thomas Jefferson, author of our Declaration of Independence and the third U.S. president, put great significance in God’s influence in building America and how to keep our freedoms. A quote by Thomas Jefferson, “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?”
Ronald Reagan delivered a speech that was so profound in 1967 that “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” The spirit of freedom is not something we automatically pass on to our children. We must defend, protect, and intentionally preserve it so they can do the same. Otherwise, we may one day spend our later years telling our children and grandchildren what life in the United States was like when people were free.
As we celebrate and memorialize the heroes of our founding on this special Independence Day, 250-year celebration, 1776-2026, may we not forget God’s influence in the existence of America.
May we continue to bless God by maintaining reverence for Him and adhering to His principals which foster an environment where blessing continue to flow. This reflects the belief that acknowledging God as our creator and our foundation is essential for America’s ongoing blessing.
May God continue to Bless America and keep freedom alive
Jim Coonrod is a retired marine and active gardener. He lives in Collinsville.