“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” Peter Marshall
I gave both of my children a frame with this saying, “Freedom equals responsibility.” I needed it as much as they did. Freedom eluded me until I took responsibility for it by writing down a plan and working it, following through with boundaries, and doing more than talking.
Playing with my grandchildren rekindled something inside of me that I didn’t know was there. Something I desperately needed, but discounted for a decade. I was a serious kid and an even more serious grownup. However, when I played again, I remembered what was missing.
It reminded me of what my supervisor told me during my internship at The Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. She said, “When you ask an addict what they do for fun, they won’t be able to tell you. The only thing they do for fun is drink, and they have to work hard to support their habit.”
Even though I was on the other side of the desk and asking questions, I ended up frustrated with fun just like the addict. I worked hard at it in the wrong way.
Freedom isn’t free. Neither is fun.
At first glance, that seemed unfair. Next to freedom, fun sounded like the freest thing imaginable. Just go and have it – no cares, no restrictions, no responsibility. I heard lots of people say, “Just go and have fun.”
If you want a boat, just buy it. If you want one more dessert or two more drinks, just eat and drink and be merry. If someone’s spouse looks more fun than yours, just have an affair.
See how that kind of fun doesn’t work?
The reality is, responsibility precedes fun. “Just have fun” ends in frustration. I’ve tried “just go and have fun.” I’ve watched friends try it. I’ve even watched my grandchildren try it. They end up frustrated and fighting.
All this talk about responsibility almost takes all the fun out of having fun. I’m sure God designed it just that way, just for us.
Irresponsible people want just fun without weighing consequences for others.
Responsible-for-others people won’t stop for fun no matter the consequences to themselves.
The solution is the same as in my recent blog post “Fix You, Fix the World.” I wrote there, “We get better when we self govern.” We also have more fun when we self govern. In fact, all of life is better when we take responsibility for ourselves, for our lives, and do what God calls us to do. Believe it or not, His plan factors in a lot of fun.
We can replace “fun” for the word “freedom” in the quotes at the beginning and end up having the time of our lives. Wanna have some fun?
In This Together,
Kim
And quote “ At first glance, that seemed unfair. Next to freedom, fun sounded like the freest thing imaginable. Just go and have it – no cares, no restrictions, no responsibility. I heard lots of people say, “Just go and have fun.”
If you want a boat, just buy it. If you want one more dessert or two more drinks, just eat and drink and be merry. If someone’s spouse looks more fun than yours, just have an affair.”
Wow, I was having fun when I read this section and then you had to go ruin it with all your talk about responsibilities playing into the having fun, So I guess I will have to adult up and follow your suggestions, or should I say, requirements.
I had fun this morning when I went into my dentist’s office and before temperature check, I looked at the receptionist and with a haggard and worn face and said, ‘In all honesty, I have to tell you I have some fever and just threw up on the way here.” She looked at me, began to laugh and said that won’t work. At least it was fun while it worked. Then in the dentist’s chair, I told him I had tried to get my husband to come in and take my shots for me at which he laughed and said I would not have to have shots. “What do you mean, no shots and you are doing a cavity?? “No shots, you have a root canal there so no nerves.” Win, win!
But then he did hurt me…he walked me to counter, left them to give me a bill for $170 for ten minutes in the dentist chair. That’s when the fun turned to “no fun.” LOL
Love you sweet Kim. Now go have some fun. Get in line for one of those $12 milkshakes.
From Facebook ~
Kim Henson
Faye Watson, what are we going to do with you??? 🙃 The milkshake line might be more painful than a visit to the dentist … and I’d still need a dentist after all that sugar! LoL I think I’ll just stay here, behave, and wait for the call to bail you out. Thanks for your comments. I love you, my sweet friend! 🥰
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Faye Watson
Kim Henson get some money saved up. Love you too.
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Haha
Kim Henson
🥰💗🚗
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Kim,
Each day I think … WOW!!!
These have to be God ordained. Y you speak to my soul .
I love each blog better and better .
Thank you for doing this for us.
Love,
Connie
Oh, Connie, you’re so sweet. I don’t even know how to respond. I’m grateful for you and your girls! ❤️
Another thought: Love God, Love Others, Love Yourself See if that doesn’t yield JOY
Jesus, Others, You an acronym we learned early. Often we leave Jesus and Others out Another acronym was yielding to the FLESH (SELF spelled backwards almost without the H). DEVIL: EVIL. Maybe this doesn’t make sense to many…
Great blog Kim.
Well, Joel, it sure makes sense to me.
I’ve always liked JOY. I’ve never heard FLESH and SELF and I haven’t paid much attention to DEVIL:EVIL, but yes. Good ones to keep in mind so we don’t slide down that slippery slope.
Thanks for sharing!