By now you probably know how much I value words. Words are powerful; they have an impact. And lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “freedom.”

Have you ever responded to someone’s request with “It’s a free country”?

• Can I sit here? It’s a free country.
• May I ask you a question? It’s a free country.
• Do you mind if I chomp my gum in your ear while you’re trying to watch a movie? It’s a free country (but you’re driving me crazy!)

Unfortunately, we have begun to think of freedom as the entitlement to do whatever we want, whenever we want, without fear of consequences because, well, it’s a free country. This isn’t the definition of freedom but of anarchy.

The truth is freedom doesn’t give us the right to do whatever we want whenever we want without consequences. Freedom means we have choices. We have the opportunity to choose with the understanding that all choices come with consequences.

Those who live in countries that aren’t free don’t have choices. They might be told what career they will pursue, how much money they can make, or how many children they can have, and they don’t have a say in that decision. Their spouses, their faith, and their standards of living are assigned to them without their input.

In this day when the entitlement epidemic is running rampant, it behooves us to remember that nothing is free of consequences, and chances are someone else paid the price for us to have a choice.

What a powerful punch that little word packs!