A little harmless fun keeps you going

Luky;
THERE ARE TIMES when I notice in myself a tendency towards bigotry and narrow-mindedness which frightens me.
You've got to live in the world and play an active part in its daily life, and I find that when you become bigoted you turn yourself away from reality.
There is a definite demarcation between righteousness and self-righteousness; yet there are times when, endeavouring to be righteous, I become self-righteous.

Fortunately my husband used to laugh me out of my confined outlook. His was a chequered career, and his vast experience stood me in good stead many a time.
Having studied philosophy for three years, he looked more deeply into the motivation behind people's actions that I did; and having worked in health care, he was convinced that a gloomy outlook leads to self-harm rather than self-improvement.

Prodigal Air
And so I was in the odd position where I always had to nag him for the necessities of life, whereas he dished out luxuries with a prodigal air.
He believed that if you have a bit of fun to look forward to now and again, you will be able to travel more happily on life's weary road.
Whether this fun consists of a drink, a visit to the races, a film, a library book or a bar of chocolate, he felt you should have it.

School books
"But we'll have to buy school books in January", I would say despairingly.
"Have you ever not been able to buy school books in January?" he asked. And it is true, I hadn't.
Mind you, I loved his easy-going way, and although I tried not to overdo it, I used to thank my lucky stars for him on a Sunday afternoon when he had a drink, which galvanised him into cooking my dinner for me and kept our children out of my hair while I could stay in my room with library books and the wireless on, munching a bar of chocolate which did nothing to reduce my weight.

Sure enough, I hated myself the next day when I had to go back on diet, or at times like the one when my son paid me what he thought was a great compliment:
"Gosh Ma, you've got strong muscles", he praised (who wouldn't have, after so many years of carting babies and toddlers around?}
"If only I had muscles like that, I wouldn't mind being as fat as you are."
Never mind, I still think it's a good idea to give oneself a break now and then.
What does it say in Desiderata?
"Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. . ." 
We tried not to be too hard on our children. Does God expect us to be too hard on ourselves?

Make ends meet
Some chosen souls, yes, surely, but the average poor soul who tries to make ends meet and do his or her duty most of the time can allow a harmless treat now and then, beyond doubt.
And so this is how it came about that when I was asked what I had done over the weekend, I was able to say: "Well, on Friday I went to the races and on Saturday we had a procession in honour of Our Lady."
"What a contrast," someone remarked.
"Not really", I said. "I was merely rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Or don't you agree?