Voices from The Freedom Fast: Collen Copple

At one point, three of our six children were all studying U.S. history at the same time. In the course of memorizing the preamble of the Constitution and learning about the Bill of Rights, we came up with the idea of creating our own family constitution.

“We, the members of the Wilson family, to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this family constitution.”

The preamble couldn’t be a more perfect beginning for a family constitution.

We then took the idea of the Bill of Rights and created our own Family Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. You have the right to live in a safe, clean environment, but that means you have to do your part: keep your room clean, do your chores, and do your laundry.

We have the right to live in a safe, nurturing environment, but that means we don’t hit each other, we don’t call each other names, and we talk about things.

Think about combining this with the idea of fasting together. First, as a family, take the time to pause and reflect, and then create your own constitutional roadmap.

It is such an empowering idea to create your own framework together, not rules, but a compelling and clarion call to be all that we can be as a family.

I invite you to share that idea with your families, with your children, and with your grandchildren. See what you can create.

This is Colleen Copple for the Freedom Fast.