Every year on our birthday, from about age six up until age twenty-one, my parents presented each of their children with a birthday card. Inside the card, along with a birthday note, was our privilege and responsibility for the year. My parents felt that it was important for us to understand our role in the family as well as our role in the world. One way for them to assist us in doing that was by helping us realize that along with privileges come responsibilities. So, depending on our age and our individual needs at that time in life we were presented with an appropriate privilege and responsibility.
I vividly remember the privilege I received on my ninth birthday. I was now allowed to ride my bike, something I loved to do, all the way down our private dirt road to the paved city road and as far as the railroad tracks. Did they really trust me that much? How had I fooled them? What liberty! I worked diligently repairing and improving my bike with the help of an older neighbor who was very bike savvy. I would save up my allowance and babysitting money to buy fancy things that could embellish my bike any way I could afford. Then every day after school, before dinner and homework I would ride to freedom, beyond that dirt road where no one else seemed to go (on their bike anyway)!
Thank God it was only my privilege to be had. No brothers or sisters to follow me – this world past the private drive was mine. The feeling of power and control and the comprehension of what this independence meant was exhilarating! I would ride until daylight was gone. I would ride no matter how cold or rainy. If the dirt road gave way to pot holes, even better. Back and forth, faster and faster! I could pop wheelies, I could fishtail and better yet, I could ride the entire way without using my hands. Never again was I bored. Never again was I lonely. With my stellar bike and my newfound freedom I could take on the world!
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