Celebrating Freedom in June... ahead of July

Juneteenth was not a holiday that was commonly celebrated in the California culture I knew as a kid. It wasn’t until I moved to Texas in the early 1980’s that I ever heard anything about it, and that only because I saw people celebrating in force all around me there, and wondered what was going on. It’s interesting that it was only in the year before I moved there that Texas became the first state to declare the date a paid state holiday.

It is a celebration of the freedom of slaves, celebrated early on with prayer meetings and church-centered activities. Nowadays, family gatherings, community festivals and educational events mark the date. I especially loved reading that it was common to wear new clothes on that date, as a way to celebrate new-found freedom! How fun!

When I lived in Texas, it seemed that the holiday was celebrated primarily by Black Americans. Today that is not the case, as Americans of every race and color join in the festivities that honor the righting of a terrible wrong. And that is as it should be, because regardless of our cultural history, spiritually we have all been freed from slavery to sin by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Every day, then, should be a spiritual “Juneteenth” celebration as we shake off our shackles and don the new clothes of the fruits of the Spirit, that we might walk in the newness of life for the rest of our days.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

(Photo credit: Unsplash/VitaliiAbakumov)