The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)
I’ve always loved the 4th of July but since having a son who served in the military, it’s even dearer to my heart. I love the family time and food, but my favorite part is always the fireworks show.
The year after our son was home from his second deployment still stands out as a favorite. I remember that night so clearly. As I sat watching the night sky, light exploded and rained down around me. The steady boom of fireworks seemed to echo the rhythm of my heartbeat. Some of the displays were an explosion of bright color; others gave off a gentler light. All of them punctuated the celebration I felt–my son was home, and we were enjoying this rare family time together.
The previous few years had been tough at times. The tears of fear and sadness as our son left for deployment, the tears of joy when he returned. There were other explosions of emotion throughout that time—the graduations as he finished boot camp and various training schools, the promotions as he moved up in rank, the calls and letters home. Each one left a trail of light through a dark landscape.
But this particular 4th of July fireworks show captured my journey of the past few years. As each one shot into the air in a burst of light, I said a prayer for the beauty that had come from these tough times.
