My sister was in Washington, DC recently and she sent me this photo of the Washington Monument all lit up for the 250th Celebration festivities. Is that not epic!
I love my country!
I love the red, white, and blue!
But what do we do when we feel like freedom is being taken away from us??
This morning I have been having a really hard time not scratching red itchy mosquito bites which are covering my wrists, my hands, and my fingers. Oh how the red welts itch!!
The reason I have red itchy mosquito bites all over my wrists, my hands, and my fingers is because I have been out in the forest gathering delicious wild shoelace blackberries … as you can see here.
The wild shoelace blackberries grow down along the forest floor. I have to carefully pick my way through the green leavy foliage draping across the forest floor so as not to step all over the harvest.
Not only is the harvest of wild shoelace blackberries abundant, but the mosquitos are intense!
Every step, every pause that I take to reach down through the leaves and gather a ripe blackberry the mosquitos swarm around me! They hover! They get right up in my ears with their incessant high-pitched buzzing! They get right up in my face! … trying to land on my forehead and give me red itchy welts all over my face!
I am covered with protection from the mosquitos. I have grubby jeans on, thick wool socks, and sturdy garden shoes. Even though it is warm and summery I am covered with a lightweight rain jacket which protects my arms. The only skin available for the mosquitoes to attack are my wrists, hands, and fingers. And my face.
Yes, the mosquitoes are frustrating.
Yes, the mosquitoes did indeed leave red itchy welts all over my wrists, hands, and fingers.
But that’s not going to stop me from getting out and enjoying the blessing God has given me of wild shoelace blackberries.
When it comes to freedom and our country, it feels like we are being “swarmed with mosquitoes”! The “mosquitoes” are all up in our face! The “mosquitoes” are all up in our ears (so to speak) driving us crazy with all their incessant high-pitched “buzzing” (so to speak).
We are told we should not be proud of our country.
“Mosquitoes” constantly and continually fill social media platforms and news outlets with how awful our country is.
We go out each day to work our jobs, live our lives, and enjoy the blessings of this wonderful country God has given us to live in … and we wind up with red, itchy “mosquito-bite” welts!
Red! (for the red, itchy, “mosquito-bite” welts)
First off, the number one rule when it comes to red, itchy mosquito-bite welts is do not scratch them! If we respond to the red, itchy welts, the only thing it will do is hurt us!
The more we scratch the red, itchy welts the more we harm ourselves. The more they itch!
The more we scratch the more blood-flow is brought to the area. And eventually the red welt turns into an ugly sore.
The same thing is true when it comes to freedom and our country. We are bombarded at every turn with “mosquitoes” swarming us … and inevitably we wind up with “red, itchy welts” on our soul.
Do not respond.
Do not respond to all the “red, itchy welts” from social media. Don’t scratch that itch! The only thing it will do is hurt us! The more we “scratch that itch” the more it will itch!
The more we “scratch that itch” the more emotional “blood-flow” is brought to the area. And eventually that “red welt” will turn into an ugly sore on our soul.
Furthermore … just because we are “swarmed with mosquitoes” that should not stop us from loving our country and enjoying the blessings God has given us of living in this country.
The “mosquitoes” don’t stop us!
Just like I was covered in grubby jeans, thick wool socks, sturdy garden shoes, and a lightweight rain jacket … so also when it comes to life … we are covered by Jesus Christ! We are wearing the protective covering of truth! We are wearing the protective covering of righteousness! Our feet are sturdy in the readiness which comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:14-15)
We are wearing the protective covering of faith! And as the “mosquitoes” try to swarm at our head and face, we are protected with salvation.
The “mosquitoes” swarming our face and landing on our hands are a terrible distraction! In the moment of distraction we can lose focus and, in swatting at the “mosquitoes” we can accidentally step on the harvest. We can squash the very thing that matters!
Stay focused! Don’t get distracted “swatting” at the “mosquitoes” … or we might accidentally wind up stepping on the things that matter most. We might accidentally wind up squashing the blessing!
Red, White, and Blue … oh what are we to do??
* When it comes to “Red” – we don’t let the “mosquitoes” stop us! We get out there anyway and enjoy the blessings God has given us!
* We don’t “scratch the itch” … we don’t respond.
* We make sure we are “covered” in the protection of Jesus Christ!
* And we don’t allow the distraction to cause us to lose focus.
Thank you God for the incredible blessing of my country!
Thank you God for the blessing of the red, white, and blue!
