My parents met on the 4th of July. My mom used to joke and say that my Dad lost his independence on that day.   My dad passed away four years ago, and my mom is now independent of my father. However, her independence is temporary. Holidays can be difficult, and memories of our family getting together to have a picnic and enjoy fireworks are long gone.   Each one of us is recovering, but not completely healed.  When we experience a loss, it feels like a part of us has died. We may be so deep in our grief that we forget that the holiday that we are celebrating today is a holiday to commemorate a birth of a nation, and much blood was shed for the blessing.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.  Psalm 33:12 NKJV