Let Freedom Ring!!!

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” ~Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776).

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend celebrating America's 250th birthday! We had a relatively quiet celebration, walking over to Smythe Park for music and food. What a surprise to have an Indian food truck! And Dagny made the beautiful fruit platter. But I really, really missed having fireworks on Daniel Island. If not now, then when?

My thoughts are very much on the freedoms we enjoy. True freedom isn't doing anything we want, but the freedom to do the right thing. As our pastor reminds us, we are free to sin, but not free from the consequences of sin. May God help us choose rightly!

July 4th would've been my father's 98th birthday. And I keep praying that he chose to be with Jesus in heaven. I am so grateful to him for bringing us to this country. I fished out an old picture, a Polaroid, that was taken when I was naturalized as a US citizen in the courthouse in Spokane, WA. I was 19 years old and had been waiting for this day since arriving in the US five years prior as a "resident alien." The term evoked laughter with thoughts of Martians (my family is from Maharashtra and years later my kids would simplify it to Martian). I knew even then that the US was the BEST country in the world to live in. And it's been confirmed over and over since living and visiting other countries. I came across a tweet by Jordan Peterson where he sums up the root of America's greatness: Dr Jordan B Peterson on X: "To the Americans: I've travelled all over the world. I've familiarized myself with many places, and met many people. And I'm a Canadian, although I’m privileged to reside once again in the States. And here's something I've noticed, and it’s a key element of America's continuing" / X 

I am so happy that my barbershop chorus will bring our Red, White, and Ringing show to various communities this summer to celebrate America's 250th birthday. God bless America!!!