A Mom's Helpful Advice

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As I was giving some, surely, helpful advice to our oldest daughter as she was organizing her kitchen after her recent move, I got a bit of a reality check as I watched her--she has done this before and actually knows what she is doing.
It is always a bit of a shock to my system when I realize our adult kids know what they are doing.
Why this is surprising at times, I don't know. We have spent their lifetime pouring everything we know into them--and everything we think they might need to know. I love it when I can see that they actually absorbed some of our wisdom, but it is especially a joy when I see they have acquired their own wisdom and gone beyond what we could teach them.
As we think about freedom today, we know that the freedoms we have right here in the United States, are plenty, and we have many people to thank for us having them, and being able to keep them.
And while it is easy to take our daughter's move for granted--and her ability to have a good job, choose a safe place to live and to acquire her own possessions--let us remember today all of those who should be enjoying various other freedoms but are yet to do so.
A good celebration of freedom should include a commitment to working towards the experience of freedom for everyone--whether it is for children benefiting from good schools, or us trying to meet the needs of those with food insecurities, there is much work to do.
Having our freedom is great, no doubt about it. But seeing that others share that freedom requires social consciousness. For parents who are just beginning to share their wisdom with their children, teaching them to work on behalf of the poor and vulnerable is not just a nice thing to do, but a responsibility.
Whether you participate at your local soup kitchen or volunteer in a community-minded group, remember, when we help lift others up, we should be careful not to pat ourselves on the back because of our "charity."
Assisting those in need so that they can enjoy the freedoms others enjoy (to which they are entitled as well) is simply protecting their human dignity and rights. ("Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching")
May every Fourth of July be happy for all!
Janet Cassidy

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