Freedom

 

What is freedom? My idea of freedom has certainly evolved over my lifetime.  At 8 years of age, freedom was my mom trusting me to walk 2 blocks over to my friend's house, my mom had faith that I'd be ok and reach my destination. Well, kids could do that back then.  At 14, freedom was my motorcycle and the license to ride it on the streets. Freedom was the job I got with my motorcycle as transportation. At 16, freedom was a car. At 18, freedom was my high school diploma, and leaving home. Freedom was making adult decisions regarding my life, and consequences that came with those decisions. 

Fifteen years later, freedom was a turtle candy from the Dollar General Store, and the twenty minutes I had away from two little kids and an overbearing husband to stop by the Dollar General Store for the shopping. Freedom was the $.75 extra in my pocket to buy that turtle candy. During this time I learned that freedom was faith. Faith that the promises of Yah were true. Freedom was living out Bible things in Bible ways even if it went against the grain. Freedom was homeschooling my sons, limiting the public school indoctrination, and emphasizing our faith. 

In another fifteen years, freedom was a job outside the home. Freedom was the income the job provided. Freedom was the relationships I was cultivating outside the home. Freedom was the support system I developed through that job that helped me leave an abusive marriage. Freedom was the steadfastness of that job. Freedom was the promises of Yah.

Eighteen years forward and freedom is early retirement.  I had a choice to stay employed and begin again with a new employer after 18 years, or retire early. Freedom is having the choice, freedom is being my own boss, answering to no one save Yah and my husband. Freedom is keeping the Holy Moedim(Appointed times), and never seeking approval from management again to get those days off. Freedom is trusting Yah, and Yah alone for our future. Freedom is being available to aid our aging parents, and go to mid-day school functions for grandchildren.  Freedom is prayer time in the middle of the day. Freedom is being willing to own nothing rather than letting things own me. They are after all just things. 

At every stage in life freedom is faith. Freedom to live my faith, to change what that looks like as my knowledge and understanding grow. Freedom to take those risks, challenges, and leaps, faith that Yah directs my way and is my foundation. At the last breath, freedom is the faith in what is next, and who is waiting to greet me, again freedom is the promises of Yahuah.

Just a work in progress 

Teresa 

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