The Day After the Fireworks

July 5, 2025 Off By Donna Wuerch Noble

Yesterday was one for the record books.

We celebrated the Fourth of July the good ol’ fashioned way — surrounded by family and many friends, food that made us thankful for elastic waistbands, and enough laughter to echo across the pastures of Alto, Texas. There were games, conversations, and yes — a quiet gratitude humming beneath it all for the country we love.

But somewhere between the burgers and the fireworks, we rolled up our sleeves and stepped into another kind of celebration: the joy of togetherness.

Yesterday was about freedom. Not just the kind written into our Constitution — though that’s precious beyond words — but the kind that shows up quietly in the everyday:

The freedom to gather.

The freedom to worship.

The freedom to serve one another, love one another, and laugh until our sides hurt.

Galatians 5:13 reminds us:
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Freedom isn’t just fireworks and flags. It’s found in the moments that make us more whole. It’s in the belly laughs and barbecue sauce. It’s in living fully, loving deeply, and remembering how blessed we are to live in this great land.

So today, as the fireworks cool and the leftovers chill, let’s lift a quiet prayer of thanks.

For freedom.
For family.
For a God who gave us both.