Free Time

Boy! My life truly is different than it was just a mere five years ago. That realization struck me between the eyes today as I was discussing with some peers about our freetime vs. the time we spend on responsibilities. Basically, we were all given a piece of paper with a circle on it. Our task was to divide the "pie" into three catagories: 1. time spent doing responsibilities 2. time spent planning or thinking about my responsibilities 3. free time.

Five years ago all four of my children lived at home. This fact may explain fully to some of you (at least those of you who are moms) that only the time that I slept was free from fulfilling my duties.

Today, and even I have a difficult time believing this, I think my circle is completely consumed with free time. I know, I know "what about the laundry?" you ask. Well, I have considered that and a few other things I still do for my family and here is my answer:

My children are 24, 23, 18, & 16. Two of them do not even live in my house any longer, 18 and 16 can do their own laundry. Sometimes I still do the laundry for them, as a courtesy, but I only do it if I have the "free" time to do it and I want to.

The same thing applies to cooking. Most of the time no one shows up for dinner anymore. Except maybe husband, then, I "freely" choose to cook a healthy, tasty dinner for us and anyone else who may want to join us.

Cleaning house: I enjoy a neat home, it is usually neat, not necessarily clean. When I want to, I clean. My friends can tell you, I don't clean often enough.

I watch my grandchildren regularly and those times you might say are a duty. No, I will argue, I gladly, "freely" spend the day with them.

Now, soon enough, I will have responsibilities for ministry events at the church we joined a few months back. People will be depending on me to do my best at carrying out those duties. However, I would even argue that I will do those things because I have the freedom and passionate desire to see these events succeed. These activities have the potential to change people's lives, give them hope for a future. Sometimes the planning and execution is time consuming and difficult, but for me it is Life! I have missed the busyness and challenge of preparing for these events. I am ready to jump back in.

Now that I think of it the days (five years ago) where I washed clothes incessantly, cooked continuously (three squares a day), drove ceaselessly to the unrelenting schedules of practices and games for all the children (did I tell you husband travelled ALL THE TIME back then?), organized and led a ministry, and taught a Bible class three times a week might be put in my free time category.

Crazy, huh? But that life is what I "freely" chose. My free time spent investing in our family and what I believed to be the best for them. And I can honestly say I would gladly choose it all over again.