Love Jesus + America Too
Love Jesus + America Too by Tiffany Ward
Boom, Bang, and Pop! The sounds of chirping, whistling, and crackling visibly explode into color and patterns in the sky. Fireworks are known for their volume and the burst of flame rocketing into the sky. For me and the ones I love most, the week of the 4th is a yearly celebration filled with summertime excitement and fun. I’m a pyro wife. I love watching the shows my fella gets to string together each year with his pyro crew for a city nearby where we live. I find I look forward to watching the countdown video that is taken behind the control panel and shared with me later. I love being far off with the kids, sitting on a picnic blanket with a community of people who are glad to celebrate and see rhythms and pretty sprays of light patterned in the sky. For me it is a breathtaking form of artwork in the sky like paint on a canvas. I especially love the music and cheers in the background. I’m quite fond of the shooter too. He is patient and intentional with his set up, rigorously working in the summer heat with his crew, and sometimes rainy, dreary weather. His process is methodical and intentional, so that everything can come together seamlessly for a moment of celebration.
We celebrate American independence on the 4th of July the same way we celebrate a birthday. As I recall from history class in elementary school, the earliest celebrations were marked with parades, bonfires, and public readings of the Declaration of Independence while also firing muskets and cannons whereas now in more modern times we have parades, barbecues, and fireworks.
Working closely with people in my profession, I have heard many stories about fireworks and what happens on the home front. I have heard of evenings gone awry from many of my animal loving friends. In particular, this holiday is not the most favorite night for them. Things can be too loud and messy, frightening their animals or young kiddos. I heard of a dog so scared to be outdoors that it broke through an external window to hide under its owner’s bed leaving a bloody shattered trail of broken glass. There are other expressions of how careless neighbors can be with their homemade shows and shots fired. I realize this moment of celebration isn’t enjoyed by all. Hearing the disappointment of others mixed with the overall theme of the 4th in our country in celebration of American birth, made me pause to reflect on light, faith, and life.
When I’m watching the fireworks each year, it reminds me of the words of Jesus found in Matthew 5:14: ‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.’ We were never meant to blend in—we’re called to stand out with radiant grace, steady hope, and love that sparkles like a thousand bursts in the night sky. Just as fireworks burst into the sky and capture our attention, our lives can be a visible display of hope and truth in a hurting world. The shooter’s careful planning mirrors how we intentionally position ourselves to be used by God—methodical, unseen worth that makes the light shine all the more beautifully.
American freedom is celebrated outwardly. Our spiritual freedom in Christ runs so much deeper, liberating us from shame, fear, and sin. Just as our nation fought for freedom, we can all walk our personal journey toward inner freedom through our own growth, surrender, and leaning into God’s unshakable truth. What a God, What a God!
Fireworks are temporary, but the light of Christ is constant. As a believer and follower of Christ, I can be more than a fleeting burst of light. I want to reflect His steady flame through my daily choices, kindness, integrity, and peace.
The show always comes to an end, the sky darkens, and the smoke drifts off. The light of Christ however, remains. What if we lived in such a way that people didn’t just remember the fireworks, but remembered the light we carried into their world. Your life is a gift. Take that that as seriously as a pyrotechnic does when setting up a shoot site. Get real with yourself. Could it be that you’re drawn to someone else’s bright light? What if you carried that same light inside of you too, able to share with anyone you meet on the path of life. Who are you becoming?
—Be Treasured