I love the Fourth of July. My beloved and I had our first unofficial “date” on an Independence Day celebration in Fort Collins, Colorado many, many, many years ago. We were married twelve months later during the Bicentennial birthday year of America.

The holiday also reminds me of the precious gift of freedom we enjoy. A song from Five for Fighting called “Freedom Never Cries” talks about our tendency to take freedom for granted. Writer/singer John Ondrasik writes personal and powerful songs that resonate with me. Ondrasik talked about the song in an interview posted at liveDaily.

“It was definitely a statement song that has a point of view. I think it kind of speaks to the fact that, I know at least for myself, we tend to only appreciate things when we need them. Growing up here in the bubble of the United States, we are statistically lucky to be born into this country where freedom, to us, seems natural. We couldn’t imagine anything else. I think sometimes we don’t recognize that. Freedom never cries. Freedom doesn’t sit in the corner and whine and make us recognize it, per se. I think if you look at the world in general today, many countries don’t experience the same freedom of expression, freedom of religion, women’s rights, freedom of the press that we have. Obviously, that leads to a majority of the world’s conflicts today. I wanted to recognize that, “Hey, freedom has a price, it’s not a gift.” It’s a little reminder to ourselves, we’re some of the lucky ones here.”

At times the struggle to gain the freedoms that every citizen deserves has been painful. The freedom to vote. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. Freedom of dissent. For many of us freedom is like our health. We don’t fully appreciate either one until they are gone.

H.L.Menken once said, “We must be willing to pay a price for freedom, for no price that is ever asked for it is half the cost of doing without it.”

Think about that. I reflected on the lyrics of this song.

I never loved the soldier until there was a war
Or thought about tomorrow
’til my baby hit the floor
I Only talk to God when somebody’s about to die
I Never cherished Freedom
Freedom never cries…

Thank God today for the blessing of freedom. Thank God for the men and women who were not home this holiday as they serve to keep our freedoms intact. I really do cherish the freedom in America.

I also cherish another kind of freedom.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.  (Galatians 5:1, NASB)

I grew tired of waking up determined through grit and discipline to be righteous. Jesus says I already am. I am redeemed. A saint. So I am learning to believe who Jesus says I am and live out of that truth. The good news? It is freedom. Paul gave some great insight into how to live out this freedom that is ours.

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Galatians 5:13, NLT)

Cherish both freedoms as a citizen of the United States and as a citizen of heaven. And take neither for granted.

Dave Burchett is the author of a new children’s book about the unlikely journey of the runt of the litter to become a trusted service companion.  A portion of every sale of Grunt the Runt Finds His Purpose goes to train service dogs for wounded veterans through the Patriot PAWS organization.