The kids passed out flyers. They baked bread and put little cards in the bread that had scripture and an invitation for Bible study. They decorated their go carts and a little red wagon. They entered the seed-spitting contest, the tug of war and the blueberry picking contest. They got so excited that they could barely behave at all. The parade was so fun and so hot! There was one moment, at the very beginning, when I looked back at all the neighbors, many of whom I’d never met, dressed in red, white and blue, at all the little flags waving, hearing the sound of “God Bless America” and the little go-cart engine and I thought I was going to cry. There’s something, today, maybe more than ever since the founding Father’s declared the great Independence, that’s so very precious about the liberty. When things are threatened, in 1776 and now,
Betsy Ross in cool shades…
they become more valuable. Our freedom is at a pretty high premium now.
John Adams wrote home to his wife about his picture for the future celebrations of the Declaration of Independence. He had to be so fearful at this writing:
“The second day of July, 1776, 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 commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. 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 forevermore.”
Illuminations (fireworks), parade, pomp and games were very much part of our celebration. But the very best part of my day was when it was all over and I was cleaning up my kitchen. Ezra sat in a chair there by the kitchen fireplace. “Mammy,” he said, “Did anyone say they will visit the church or study the Bible with us?”
It mattered in his heart. That mattered about the day. The ultimate, eternal freedom offered in Christ, of course, infinitely eclipses, any temporary (look at world history) freedom in any earthly country or kingdom.
I thanked God, before pillowing my head at the end of that long day, that this mattered to him. I told him that folks didn’t read the cards in the bread yet, but that I did get to personally talk to a couple of people about the church and VBS and Bible study. And, you can bet, he was along when we went the next day to the hospital to visit a neighbor that we hadn’t yet met, who wanted to come, but couldn’t. I want him to love people…souls. Life is so tenuous. (Ask the people in the Texas floodwaters. I am praying for those lives that will never be the same.)
We want Ezra (and all six grandchildren) to love our country and proudly wave the flag. But we want them to love the better country of Hebrews 11:16 even more! 
