Let Freedom Ring

Happy Independence Day everyone! I am sure that today across the United States of America, potato salad, hamburgers and hot dogs are going to be consumed in record amounts! Fireworks will light of the sky in celebration of the freedom we enjoy as Americans. To all of the service men and women who fight to afford us this freedom, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you.

As Americans, we enjoy so many freedoms, that countries across the globe do not.  Freedom of speech, freedom of equality, and freedom of religion, just to name a few. As Americans who enjoy these freedoms, we also need to respect those freedoms, being sure not to bend or mold them into what we think they entail.  The freedom of speech, while it gives us the right to express an opinion without persecution, (this blog for instance) we should not hide behind that freedom to attack another person. More and more we hear of people using the web and social networks to attack to individuals for their beliefs, their appearance, their sexuality or merely their "social status". That's not what was intended when we were given the freedom of speech. It does not give us the right to tear another down because we have decided not to exercise their freedoms.

It's not a secret that I am a Christian, and because of my right to religious freedom and the fact that America was founded on Christian beliefs, that I am choosing to exercise that right in what I am about to express.  Jesus was the prime example of what it meant to be nondiscriminatory. He didn't care what social status a person held, what their job description was, or even if they were a man or a woman. It didn't matter to Him what skeletons were in their closets, what kind of life they led, or whether they were diseased or broken. No, He loved them and that's what He calls us to do. "Love one another as I have Loved YOU."

Loving another person does not mean loving them to make them change to our liking. Love is unconditional. Love is kind. Love is patient and Love is FREE.  It is not our responsibility to change another person and I personally am thankful for that because what a tremendous responsibility that is. The only one capable of making that change is God Himself.  All we are to do is love them and let God do the rest.

So, as we celebrate the freedoms we have been afforded, let us remember to exercise one of the greatest choices we have....the freedom to LOVE.
Until next time,
Cat