And Paul said, But I was free born. —Acts 22:28
Independence Day was my father-in-law’s favorite holiday. He celebrated it with great festivity and joy, because freedom was among his highest values. Dad Helleberg came to this country from Denmark at the age of eighteen with fifty dollars in his pocket and only a few words of English in his vocabulary. “But if you have your freedom,” he often said, “you have everything.”
He had a long and successful career as an architect, but during his final years, he became confined to a wheelchair and finally to bed. It seemed to me that he had lost the thing he valued most—his freedom. Then one evening in late June, I sat by his hospital bed holding his frail white hand. “The Fourth of July will soon be here,” I said, trying to make conversation.
“Oh, yes!” he replied. Then, squeezing my hand ever so slightly, he said, “You know, there’s one freedom no one can ever take from you. You always have the freedom to choose what your attitude will be!” My father-in-law died a free man, despite his very restricting circumstances.
This year, as you’re celebrating America’s freedom by hanging out the flag, or watching a parade or fireworks display, take a few moments to remind yourself that no matter what the outer events of your life are, you always have that most precious of all freedoms—the freedom to choose your own attitude!
Let freedom ring, Lord, in my country and in my heart.
