When someone asks if I’m patriotic, the answer comes pretty easily: yes. Very much so. But for me, patriotism isn’t loud debates or heated opinions. It’s much simpler and a lot more personal.
My favorite holiday is most definitely the Fourth of July (partly due to its proximity to my birthday). We take fireworks pretty seriously. Chris actually works on local city fireworks shows and gets paid in fireworks products, so we typically have a pretty amazing show for ourselves and our families. Blankets in the grass, kids running barefoot, sparklers glowing in the twilight, and that familiar boom echoing across the sky. It’s joyful, chaotic, and sometimes we go home with little burn holes in our shirts. I love every second of it.
However, I don’t believe that loving fireworks alone makes you patriotic.
Being patriotic means feeling genuine gratitude for the blessings that come from living in a free country filled with opportunities and comforts that many people around the world don’t have access to. It means appreciating the everyday luxuries we often forget are luxuries at all, such as safe neighborhoods, grocery stores full of choices, the freedom to build a life you love, and the ability to dream big for your kids.
Gratitude doesn’t have to compete with compassion. In fact, I think they belong together. We can recognize how fortunate we are while still wanting to help others and make the world better. Those two feelings aren’t opposites, they’re partners. Pretending we aren’t blessed doesn’t help anyone, but using our blessings to lift others absolutely can.
So when the fireworks light up the sky each summer, I don’t just see a celebration. I feel thankful. Thankful for family, for freedom, for opportunity, and for the simple joy of watching bright sparks fade into a warm summer night.
And to me, that quiet, grateful feeling is what patriotism really looks like.
If you like this post, you can subscribe for free using the Subscribe button on the bottom right corner of your screen!
Packing for Adventure 
Leave a comment