Article Tools
- Text Size
- Add a comment (3)
- Print this article
- Email this article
"Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy." (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
Mother Teresa wrote this long before September 11, 2001. Today, peace and war are in our thoughts much more. Yet, even when we follow the events in Afghanistan and the Middle East, the war can still seem remote from our everyday busy lives.
Independence Day is a day to rejoice that we live in a free country. We are free not to live in any way we please, but free as Christians to live the Gospel we profess. This Gospel has as one of its golden rules exactly what Mother Teresa speaks about—to love others as we would want to be loved (Matthew 19:19). This love begins with God’s love for us. From there, God’s love in us flows outward to the members of our families, to our friends, and to the whole world.
ACTION STEP:
Celebrate…
The full article is available to subscribers only
Access all articles, daily meditations and readings, as well as special resources, by becoming a subscriber. View subscription options.
Special Offer: 2 week free web-only trial subscription. Sign up now.
Existing Print & Web-Only Subscribers: Login for full access.
I am very thankful for the meditations and inspiration I read on your website, especially the Action Steps that you have with this Fourth of July article. Hopefully, you will continue this Action Step idea.
I am very thankful to live in America and pray that we will continue to have the Freedoms we enjoy for generations to come.
Freedom has come at a price of lives lost. Lives that had souls that fought for our freedom, so we could live in a free world. Freedom of religion, to pray whenever we want & to worship in public. This is a day to thank our veterans and the founding fathers of our country and first of all GOD. Without HIM who gave these people their ambition, talent and desire to serve their country so we could stay free. Thank You.
I think we should pray to God constantly so that His LOVE can conquer us and destroy the ‘prisons’ of anger, resentment, hate, envy, and wickedness in our hearts.This will surely give us true peace and real freedom as we so celebrate.