By Serena Davidson
There's a chore wheel hanging in my kitchen. It has bossed us and blessed us for almost twenty years now. The words say Laundry, Kitchen, Living Room, Bathrooms, and FREE DAY. On Free Day, a person doesn't have to do an assigned chore.
It's my Free Day today. I revel in the thought, although the reality is less shiny.
- 5:30 am My husband calls us to the living room for family prayer. He goes to work; we go back to bed.
- 7:35 am The alarm clock rings. I silently say my morning inspiration from Psalms: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” We each fix our own breakfast: oatmeal, or last night's pizza, or a granola bar on the go. The morning rule is:
Eat Something. That's it.
- 8:30 am The house is quiet. I am alone. I wander around, picking up dirty towels, putting a few dishes away, starting a load of jeans. It's my Free Day.
- 10:00 am I read my Book of Mormon and say my morning prayers. I listen for the answers. The thoughts pour over me sweet, clear, helpful, and hopeful.
- 10:30 am More chores.
- 12:30 pm I bless, heat, and eat the leftover lasagna.
- 12:45 pm Pay a few bills. One of them is a speeding ticket; I deserved it. Thoughtless. Seventy-five bucks, but it could have been worse.
- 1:00 pm Chat with friends online, a bright spot in my day. Then I sign an online petition concerning a political matter. Now it's time to go to town to buy groceries. The car knows the way.
- 2:45 pm Hurry home to meet my kids. They come in red-cheeked, breathless, spilling enthusiasm.
- 4:00-6:00 pm Everyone needs to go everywhere all at once. We get the errands done, then chores, and homework. It's my Free Day. I start supper, which will be pork chops, potatoes and gravy, and applesauce.
- 6:45 pm My husband walks in the door, smooches me, asks about my day. He hurries to the bedroom to change; he has appointments tonight. The kids are going to Mutual. I do a few dishes. Mary and I watch Cinderella while I crochet an afghan.
- 9:30 pm The family bursts in ravenous, looking for snacks. Al puts on his Snoopy pajama pants. We settle on the couch and watch a movie before we both fall asleep. I wake us up with an unintended snort. We all laugh.
- 10:00 pm Time for scripture study and family prayer.
- 10:20 pm Al and I have our companion prayer. He sets his alarm clock for 4:30 am and we crawl under the covers, joking and talking. Soon he nods off, but I'm still awake.
I think about my Free Day.
It was Free Day, because the chore wheel said it was.
It was Free Day, because I could sleep, wake, pray, work, eat, learn, do, answer for my deeds, speak my mind, buy, create, laugh, love, and live whenever, wherever, and however I wanted.
It was Free Day because I am in the United States. In Idaho. In Iona. Every day is Free Day here.
- 11:11 pm Magic moment. I smile in the dark and freely fall asleep.
Kudos to Serena for allowing me to post this wonderful, uplifting essay. You deserved the win!
Alison, thank you for posting that.
Serena, that was wonderful!
AWESOME!!!! Oh Serena…. this is why I love you so!!
That was the best thing I’ve read in a long time.
When I got to the end, I wondered if this was your essay for the contest. I see from the other posts that it was.
You TOTALLY deserved the win. And even if there had been 20 or 30 other entries, you’d still have won.
Essays usually come across more like “reports”. But this was so creative and so PERSONAL, and it so effectively pointed out our freedoms, AS THEY’RE EXPERIENCED in the minutia of our everyday lives, where we so often don’t recognize them or appreciate them.
Awesome, awesome, awesome!
:clap: :cheer: :swingin: :cheer: :clap: :swingin: :cheer: :clap: :swingin:
Well, thank you. Thank you, Alison, for kindly offering to post it. Thank you, all, for your words of encouragement. I am blessed in the friend department.
That is an amazing essay, Serena. Amazing.
Well done!!! We are so proud of you!!! Thank you for reminding us about the simple things in life! They truly are the best!
That was wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!:whorship:
Beautiful, davidson. 🙂
That was a fun read, thanks!
Fantastic!! What a gift you have with words, Serena. I agree with Tracy that we often don’t pay attention to the every-day freedoms we enjoy. Thanks for the reminder!
I love it! it is amazing just what we take for granted! I love the concept of “free day”. You write beautifully and I am so glad that you shared this with us!
Thank you. I have often thought how well and thoughtfully all of you write. It is a pleasure every day to visit with friends who think carefully and express themselves well. I mean that sincerely.
Well done, Serena!
Serena:
Your gentle reminder of being grateful for “Just being here” is uplifting and well delivered.
I would like if I may to add this poem into the mix if I may.
==================================================
“Upon My Knees”
I got down on my knees today.
I said a humble prayer.
I thanked Him for life I live.
I thanked Him for pied-a-terre.
For in this, my interim home
I am free to come and go.
I may freely speak my mind,
and write for you this wee morceau.
Oh, there are rules
as should there be.
In the land of the brave
and the home or the free.
And it’s not perfect
this home of mine.
But nothing better
I have yet to find.
I am not rich
yet I live like a king.
Compared to the world
I have everything.
Food in my belly.
Shoes on my feet.
A roof o’er my head.
And a bed to sleep.
I go fishing in the spring and summer.
Hunting in the fall.
Sleigh ride in the winter.
I truly have it all.
An auto in the driveway.
A computer on the desk.
A good job in the city.
It appears so picturesque.
But all of this I would not have
If it weren’t for He above.
And brave young men who gave there all
so I could live this life I love.
So down upon my knees I go.
giving thanks for all I have.
And son and brothers, fathers, lovers.
who’s lives now all are daff.
==============================
Learing to thankful is a wonderful gift indeed.
Thank you all.
Wally
Wally, so nice to see your heart! Thanks for sharing. You are truly a grateful, patriotic soul.
You had me fooled, Wally. For a minute there, I thought the last word in every verse was going to be French! 🙂
Nicely done!
Insignificant question, or depending on your answer, maybe not–
How exactly did you intend “pied-a-terre”, literally? Possibly for having feet that get you around? Or were you referring to an apartment you might be in?
Or possibly earth life as a second estate? Your poem covered the gammet— so you could have been referring to any of these
facethemusic:
This home in which we live. This mortal existence, it only temporary housing. An apartment in which to dwell as my home eternal home is being prepared. It
would be well with me to maintain the best I can this home. Showing respect for my landlord, and respect for the next dweller. So yes it literally is intended to mean a temporary home. My mortal life.
Thank you for the complement.
Truly
Wally
davidson:
Your warm comments are warmly welcomed. I would like to believe I am a grateful son and patriotic fool to the core. In truth, I am afraid at close examination I would be found lacking. I have so many “Things” to be grateful for that I do take for granted some large, some small, all blessing from above.
Thank you.
Wally
well said all!!! Again, I am so grateful to be reminded of being grateful!!! Thank you for using your talents wally and davidson. What a good place to use them.