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Summer is fast approaching and with the warm weather, soothing sea scents, and bright beachwear that come with being a Southern Californian, we have a ton to be thankful for. With this season comes celebrations of fun and freedom, but summer represents more than just beach bonfires, pool parties, and fireworks that light the night sky. The 4th of July has always been a girls’ night for my family. With my mom and two sisters, we would eat a picnic with our blankets, lawn chairs, and the fireworks blazing overhead. The reason for the excessive amounts of estrogen was that my dad was a police officer and the 4th of July had a “no day off” policy, as it was one of the busiest and most dangerous nights of the year. As a member of the Newport Beach Police Department, my dad spent 20 plus years of his life protecting and defending the freedoms that we have been so privileged to have as Americans. During this time of year, we celebrate the freedoms we received from our forefathers, giving us what so many countries do not have the luxury of: freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition, and our favorite, religion. Our forefathers knew that, by giving Americans these freedoms, they were allowing us to make choices that would better our lives.

In the same way, our heavenly Father has also given us freedoms—freedoms that allow us to make choices for ourselves as well as our families. With these choices, He has also given us a perfect Guide Book to what the best choices are! All we have to do is study it, and He helps us to make the right choices for our lives. It is not always easy to make certain kinds of decisions, especially as women who have enough mood swings and emotional up and downs to make decisions for more than just one! And there are times when God does not lay it out easily. What school should my kids go to? Who should I date? Am I meant to be married or stay single? Our generation faces issues that don’t always seem to be solved with an easy Bible read. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Maybe we aren’t always given the answers in a black and white way, but as long as we seek Him, He will answer us one way or another.

Sometimes the best answers don’t feel like answers at all, but rather a peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus came to bring us that peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives (John 14:27 NIV). “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart” (John 14:27 NLT). Maybe you feel as if having the freedom to choose can be a burden and you wish that God would choose for you. As women, we have been blessed with an ability to feel in ways that men do not always have. The good that comes with that is our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s prompting when we are searching for Him.

With freedom comes great responsibilities. And with Christian freedoms come a need to be an example to others. However, when the choice is not a right or wrong, but rather a curiosity of what would be the wisest and best for your life and the lives of your family, know that consulting God’s Word is the best way to find peace in your decisions. And God may not spell it out for you, but He will give you peace and help you along the way.

In all this we have a reason to be thankful—even for our emotional extremes at times! Be excited for the freedoms that we have been given, ladies! And for the gifts God has given us. They are meant to help us make choices of compassion and love. And know that the freedom to choose is one of the best gifts God has given us!

So, this year, as you watch the bombs bursting in air, remember that our God has given us more freedom than we deserve. And with that, we have a chance to make Him proud with the decisions we make and to get closer to Him in the process. Whether you are facing choices that seem minute or ones that are bringing you to your knees, know that He not only wants to help you make those decisions, but He also can’t wait for the chance to grow closer to you as you draw near to Him.