I remember being at the babysitter’s waiting for pick up time.

The clock’s hands wouldn’t move fast enough. In frustration, my older sibling resolved to teach me how to tell time after being asked a zillion times, “Is it time yet?” I couldn’t wait to be picked up and go home!

You see, there were rules for the children of the house, but there were additional rules for us, the babysat. The difference was obvious.

The “real” children got to taunt us, to boss and bully us. They roamed freely in their home, while we remained in what seemed a state of perpetual preparedness, waiting for the time when Daddy arrived to set us free from second class status.

Oh, what a thrill for us kids when he came! One clung to his leg, another was on his back, still another dangled on his arm. We glanced back victoriously at our oppressors, for we were going home at last!

Similarly, what a relief when sinful habits or addictions no longer get to boss us around, when sin’s bullying power is overcome in our lives and we are set free in Jesus to say “No!” to temptation’s taunts.

What a liberation celebration, indeed!