INDEPENDENCE DAY
(Mamie Eisenhower’s Million Dollar Fudge)

As I stand at my kitchen window I can see the fireworks display coming from a local park. I love the noise, the beauty in the shower of lights, the excitement – all to celebrate July 4th – our Independence Day, which has been celebrated every year on July 4 since l776 – 215 years ago.

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation was 2.5 million.

Today, the nation's estimated population on this July Fourth is 311.7 million.

We claim our Nation is ‘The Land of the Free’ – and it is. Yet I’m afraid we take our freedom for granted. Yet this should not be. Freedom always comes with a cost. Many men and women have given their lives so this country might remain free. We are deeply indebted to each one of them. Without their sacrifice, this Nation and our lives would be very different.

To be “free” is defined this way - “enjoying personal rights or liberty, as a person who is not in slavery; a land of free people”.

Every day we enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness because we are not enslaved to bondage or slavery. We are a free people.

As Christians, we are indebted to the One who was willing to sacrifice His life so that we could be free from slavery to sin. Jesus went to the cross and died for you and me. If he had not done this, where would we be? Still living a life enslaved in our sin. Still living a life which offers no joy or peace. We would have no hope, and no assurance of eternal life. But Jesus did die. He willingly gave his life. He became our sacrifice for freedom; just as men and women have done in the past.

On this Fourth of July, I want to thank these brave young people who sacrificially gave their lives so this Nation might remain free. Thank you.

I want to thank God’s Son, Jesus, who sacrificially gave His life on the Cross at Calvary so this sinner might be free from slavery to sin. Because of Jesus I can enjoy freedom from the bondage of sin and have assurance and hope of eternal life.

Are you enjoying this same freedom? I truly hope so. If not, ask Jesus to show you how you can experience the joy of being free from the bondage of sin.

Romans 5:6-8 – “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this, While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9-10 – “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”


Mamie’s (Eisenhower) Million Dollar Fudge

4 1/2 cups sugar pinch of salt 2 tablespoons butter 1 tall can evaporated milk 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bits 12 ounces German-sweet chocolate 1 pint marshmallow cream 2 cups nutmeats

Boil the sugar, salt, butter, evaporated milk together for six minutes.

Put chocolate bits and German chocolate, marshmallow cream and nutmeats in a bowl. Pour the boiling syrup over the ingredients. Beat until chocolate is all melted, then pour in pan.

Let stand a few hours before cutting. Remember it is better the second day. Store in tin box.