I heard through the grapevine it’s a pretty big day in the US. I’m ready for my Facebook feed to be full of your dinner recipes and silly jokes. I never knew how much I’d miss those updates.

As a political junkie with an abiding love for this country, my heart aches like many of yours, not just for the political climate, but even more so, the divisiveness amongst fellow believers and what it represents to the world.

Amidst this, I’ve turned homeward and spent a lot of time dialoguing with our children.

I want them to remember this election for more than just chaos and discord. I want these months to count. I’ve framed our discussions around what it means to be a land of the free and home of the brave, but more than that, my desire is that they know what it means to be truly free.

We researched brave historical heroes; men and women who risked their lives for our freedom, trying to grapple with the their untold sacrifices we couldn’t begin to understand. We then searched scriptures for passages focused on freedom and living free. That’s where truth permeated.

Jesus came to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners — to comfort all who mourn — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes . . . a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3).

Pause and let that settle in your soul like it did ours: bind, proclaim, release, comfort, bestow, praise.

Christ has done that and more. We are free solely because of Him.

I asked our girls, “How might being a home of the free and brave look like in our everyday life? How can we make God known?”

First, we declared biblical essentials: For freedom Christ has set us free.

Brave admits that we are all sinners and professes there is only one true and living God who sits on the throne. Brave confesses.

Freedom runs rampant when we understand nothing can thwart God’s plan for our lives or that of our country. Freedom confirms.

Brave is love wrapped up in our own humanity, humbly acknowledging that without the King of King and Lord of Lords, we are nothing. Brave transforms.

Freedom reminds my children there is complete peace by acknowledging that salvation does not come riding in on Air Force One. Freedom reminds.

Brave understands that we were not made for this world, and as believers, times will get more difficult. We were not promised a life of ease, yet we must hold firm to what we know to be true. Brave convicts.

Freedom sings praises to the Lord, extols His name alone, and remembers that joy comes in the morning. Freedom comforts.

Brave reaches across the table, pulls up chairs, and breaks bread with those of differing spiritual and political views. Brave heals.

Freedom reflects a church with varying nationalities and skin colors all proclaiming God’s goodness together. Freedom worships.

Brave encourages our sons to knock on doors, and extend spontaneous pick-up basketball game invitations to those from all economic backgrounds. They compete hard, and then grab burgers together. Brave is that same mom who then has a sleepover for those guys. Brave loves.

Freedom is my daughter swept away with love for her Savior knowing that her identity is found only in Him. Freedom releases.

Brave brings lies of insecurity and unworthiness to light, thereby unleashing the power of His truth to combat those lies. Brave then reaches out to the mean girl in class, even fearing rejection. Brave extends.

Freedom, bravery, grace, transformation. Oh, how my heart rejoices that He has granted us this and more!

This list barely scratches the surface of ways to manifest these in our home, and now I invite you to add to it.

On this election day, I’d love to see you fill the comments with transformative ways we can make Him known.

What might a home of the free and brave look like to you? 

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