Rights and freedom
July 9, 2026
By Jeff Becraft
It is an incredible privilege to be able to live in the United States and have all the freedoms that we have. Millions of people around the world do not have such an opportunity.
There are many things in life that we can take for granted. At least I know I do. Sometimes it’s those freedoms and those opportunities (and a heavy price has been paid over the years so that we can live in this country and have those freedoms).
Through the Constitution, we have many rights as citizens of the United States. The freedom we have and the rights we have are extremely important.
And I believe that freedom and rights are for us to do what is right.
There are times when rights can become inward focused. I can begin demanding my rights, and when I approach life that way, I may get what I want, but I am never satisfied.
True freedom is when we lay down our rights for someone else to love them and to serve them. Just ask any married couple if they go into that marriage and each person is demanding their rights in that marriage… ask them how well that goes.
The true glory of freedom is when one person lays down their rights for another person to be able to lift that person up.
We all have the right… and the freedom… and the opportunity… to do something that we do not need a law or a governmental creed to do – to love one another.
Laying down my rights for another is costly… but freedom is not free. To demand my rights, to fight to have things my way, to manipulate others and situations to get what I want… that has its own price tag and confinement, and we can totally miss the joy of freedom.
Those who have laid down their lives over the years in our military never got to see or enjoy the fruit of their sacrifice. We are the benefactors. We enjoy those rights and freedoms.
As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America, let’s be thankful and exercise those rights and freedoms to love and serve others.
Jeff Becraft is the Director of Our Place of Hope located in Columbia, South Carolina, where people find encouragement to regain meaning, purpose, and hope for their lives. Jeff has dedicated much of his life to helping shift the vision of people’s lives. If you would like Jeff to speak to your group or event, you can connect with him at [email protected].
