On April 25, 1947, Reverend Peter Marshall stood before the U.S. Senate and prayed, “Freedom is not the right to do as we please, but rather the opportunity to be pleased to do what is right.”

What is deemed “right” has been debated for as long as we’ve had democratic societies. But historically, to do right is to do no harm. 

Sadly, our selfish natures can sometimes lead to harming others in unjust ways, such as stealing, greed, or violence. Many laws are in place to keep our selfish natures in check. We live in a free country, but freedom is never an excuse for hurting others. 

With freedom comes a great deal of responsibility. We can buy a new car, but we must make our payments, or it’s considered theft, and won’t be ignored. We can believe as we choose, but we cannot harm others for thinking differently. A person’s liberties should be carefully employed, or they may be taken away.

Exercising one’s freedoms within reasonable limits promotes the common good. Freedom for you must not preclude freedom for everybody else.

Today’s “Peace of Wisdom” can be found in enjoying our freedom to do what we desire, provided it’s doing what is right.