She Can Laugh at Days to Come

Happy Fourth of July!

There is much reason to celebrate, so why am I being such a Debbie-Downer? It’s not that I’m depressed at all. It’s just that I find that the Fourth of July in particular brings with it an extra sense of tension. It tries my nerves and my patience more than any other holiday.

For one thing, I have a dog that doesn’t like it much either. A month before the actual holiday she starts hiding under the table from the early-bird fireworks being set off in our neighborhood. She barks and puffs and whines. Even her doggie CBD oil biscuits do little to calm her nerves.

Holidays Can Be Stressful for Families with Struggling Loved Ones

For those daring enough to invite their prodigal home for the holidays, it brings with it the stress of wondering if they can get through just one holiday without an argument or family drama. I honor you, brave ones.

Perhaps my reservations surrounding this holiday are not really because of those darn fireworks, the neurotic dog, or the stress of all the preparation. I think deep down inside there is a feeling of innocence lost, an innocence of days past I wish we could return to, but can’t.

I miss the tender days of my children’s youth. I made the holidays special for them. I was able to keep them safe and secure around those fireworks. All my mommy-knows-best warnings were actually listened to by obedient little ears. But as they grew up, the warnings began to fall on deaf ears.

Choices they now make have more dire consequences than swimming too soon after gorging on watermelon or running with a sparkler in their hands. Some of these choices have cost them, and us, dearly. The family unit as we know it has changed. Celebrations and holidays look and feel different.

How To Handle the Holidays When Your Heart Is Not In It

Proverbs 31:25 gives us some wise counsel.

First, we are clothed with strength. In the Hebrew, strength means “boldness, might, or power.” This is not physical strength. It is strength found in our souls, minds, and hearts. The Lord has equipped us with strong character. We may not always feel strong, but He has given us an inner strength to handle the toughest of situations, as well as the toughest holidays, I might add.

Please, stay with me!

Finally, we can laugh at days to come! Yes, I know the present seems a bit challenging, but we have the promise of a future we can look forward to. We will be with our Lord, and on that day fireworks will seem like smoldering ashes!

She Can Laugh At Days to Come

The day we see Jesus face to face will be our true Independence Day. We can face today with strength and dignity even when we don’t feel like it because we know Jesus will give us what we need to handle it like the strong women he has created us to be. We can laugh at our future because it is guaranteed. And that is one big reason to celebrate!

As we celebrate today, let’s honor the men and women who fought for our freedom, remembering those who died for it as well. Let’s celebrate knowing that Jesus died for our spiritual freedom and that of our loved ones.

He has fully prepared us for this occasion by his grace. It really is a holiday to celebrate after all. Happy Fourth of July!

Dear Lord.

On this July 4th, let us remember that there are so many reasons to celebrate. We have freedom in you, and we have hope. We trust you for the freedom of our loved ones. In Jesus’s name, we pray.