Let Freedom Reign

When asked what nationality I am, I proudly say I'm Japanese American.  If you know me fairly well, you know I more closely identify with being Japanese more than I do being American.  I tend to eat Japanese food more often than American food, and I celebrate Japanese holidays with my family.  One of my friends commented on a picture of a room in my house being decorated with Japanese paraphernalia.  I dreamed of working in Japan, and here I am.

Makeshift indoor BBQ

But now that I'm here, in Japan, I would tell you I'm American.  I'm not Japanese American in Japan.  I'm just American.  Since today is Independence Day, America's birthday, I proudly blasted "Proud to be an American" through every open window in my house.  I turned my fish griller into a makeshift BBQ and grilled up some sausage and corn on the cob and bell peppers.

It's difficult to explain the significance of Independence Day in a country that's never been dependent.  I've never really thought about America's independence too much until today.  I'm grateful to be a citizen of the United States of America where freedom reigns.  While the US of A may not be the perfect country, I am thankful for the education I've received and the services that are available.  Things may be very different than they were in 1776, but the red, white, and blue flag still waves over the amazingly diverse but united states of America.

This morning in my thankful journal I jotted down "freedom."  I am thankful today for my freedom of speech and religion.  I am thankful for my freedom to vote.  I am thankful for the freedom to get an education and find a job.  I am thankful for the men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect America and the freedom it stands for.  I am thankful for my rights as a citizen of the United States of America.

I'm also thankful for my freedom in Christ Jesus through His blood shed on the cross for my sins.  I'm thankful for the freedom from my sin to turn to God the Father and to serve Him with my life.  I'm thankful for Christ's free will, and that in His freedom He willingly came to earth, lived a sinless life, died a sinner's death, and rose from the grave 3 days later for the glory of God.  I am thankful to be free.

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 6:22-23