The fourth of July brings about a lot of fun activities and opportunities for creating traditions of family fun that can be repeated year after year. It may not seem like it, but it is also a great time to keep the faith talks going as we are charged to do in Deuteronomy 6:6-7:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the way, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Here are some ideas for how we can view our freedoms and celebrations through the lens of God’s grace and point to him:

• Fireworks-There’s something special and grandiose about fireworks; they’re powerful and awe-inducing. You can rarely sit in a crowd and watch fireworks without hearing “ooo’s and ah’s.” Sometimes sitting still and considering the power of God is even more awe-inducing. What are things that amaze you about God? Why?
• Sparklers-You only have a minute to let your light shine before it goes out. You run and twirl and stroke your arms wide in all directions so it can be seen. When we share the light of Jesus, it doesn’t go out in a short time, the Holy Spirit keeps working faith in us. What if we each shared the light of Jesus like we share the light of a sparkler? What if we captured that excitement and used it to share the light of Jesus in our everyday lives? What would that look like?
• American Flags-As there’s an appropriate honor due our flag that your family can talk about and learn together, our God is worthy of our highest honor and praise. What is honor? How can we show we honor God in our everyday lives? When we’re in special places like God’s house? When we talk about God or to God?
• Barbeques-Who doesn’t love a good cookout? Great food and outdoor fun come together as the formula for an awesome day. As you eat the watermelon, talk about a blessing for every seed you find (black or white!). As you top a hotdog with condiments, talk about all the “extras” God’s given your family to enjoy this summer. As you drink the lemonade, talk about how we can turn our sour days into sweet days…not with sugar and water, but when we consider God’s grace and goodness.

Our freedoms are cause to thank God often and much. As you go along celebrating Independence Day, remember faith talks can enhance all that we do!