by the dawn's early light

Psalm 112:4, "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man."

It may sound odd, but one of my favorite things about Jesus Christ being my Savior and being redeemed is the peace that comes with it.  This is even more so during times of trial or the valleys in life.  There is a hope that cannot be taken away because it is a possession of the heart and mind guarded fiercely by the Holy Spirit in me.

Today, as I type, I am looking out over "purple mountains majesty" on July 4 and thinking about the "small town" parade (it's a camp, not a small town...but the same feel) that will be happening.  There's a feeling that is almost unexplainable and honestly forgettable to me most of the rest of the year as I often take my freedoms for granted.  My daughter will be in the parade with the other campers...she will look for my face even though she won't acknowledge my existence in front of her peers (she knows full well that embarrassing them is one of my sweetest joys 😊😊) Even this is a treasured freedom some places of the world will never know.

And as true to the female mind, I was off on another trail...thinking about another time when light dawned in the darkness.  A young man named Frances Scott Key had been sent to negotiate the release of some American prisoners with the British aboard one of the ships of the British fleet.  Able to negotiate their release, he was not allowed yet to leave because of the impending attack on Baltimore.  From there, he watched the attack on Fort McHenry.  He stated, "It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone." He was certain the British had won, but in the clearing smoke of "the dawn's early light" he saw the American flag flying over the fort.  

Our country is so far from perfect...it really always has been.  As a history teacher, I cringe at some of the atrocities that are part of our story.  But truth be told, we are all like that.  None of us, NOT A ONE, is living a perfect life.  But I am proud of my country and grateful for my freedoms (ie:  just being able to write this).   And I am in love with a PERFECT Savior.  Because of Him, light always dawns in darkness...and I am eternally grateful.