cool“From Freedom to Feedom: A Call to Serve Humanity First”
By Eric Paddy Boso
In 1943, the American artist Norman Rockwell captured the heart of a nation in a time of war and uncertainty through his painting Freedom from Want. It is one of four iconic works inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union Address, in which he envisioned a world built on four essential human freedoms:
Freedom of Speech Freedom of Worship Freedom from Want Freedom from Fear
While these ideals were painted on canvas to inspire wartime resilience, Freedom from Want speaks to something timeless and deeply human: the universal right to basic needs and the dignity of being seen, fed, and loved.
At first glance, the painting shows a family or close friends seated around a long dining table, smiling warmly as a matriarch places a perfectly roasted turkey at the center. But this is more than a festive meal—it is a vision of abundance, love, unity, and security. The expressions on the faces reflect joy not just in the food, but in the company, the togetherness, and the peace.
This painting is not just art; it is a moral compass. A reminder that sharing is not a cultural choice—it is a human duty.
The Spirit of Service Begins at the Table
As I reflect on Rockwell’s vision, I’m transported to memories of my village, where Christmas and special occasions brought families and neighbors together over shared meals. There were no social classes at the table. Everyone ate. Everyone laughed. The food was never measured by how much we had—it was stretched by how much we cared.
I remember my mother—God rest her soul—cooking meals not only for me and my friends but for anyone who walked by hungry. When I asked her why she gave so much when we had so little, her answer stunned me:
“Maybe one day, when I am not there, someone will feed my children when they are hungry too.”
That simple statement revealed a deep truth—service to others is a seed sown in the spirit that blossoms across generations.
From Homes to Nations: Service Is a Calling
Today, our world is being reshaped by division, greed, and indifference. The gap between those who feast and those who starve has never been wider. The concept of “freedom” has been distorted into “feedom”—a system where the few eat and the many are trapped, dependent, or discarded.
From the pulpit to the presidency, from the family home to international councils, we are facing a crisis of compassion. Leaders have forgotten that positions are not prizes—they are platforms to serve humanity.
When you are called to lead—whether as a pastor, a president, a teacher, or a father—you are called to feed, not to fleece. You are called to lift, not to lord. The true test of leadership is not in how many people honor you, but in how many people eat, heal, learn, grow, and rest because of you.
Rockwell’s Freedom from Want is a mirror, and it asks us:
Who is at your table? And who have you kept out?
Humanity First: A Global Imperative
We must return to humanity as our first priority—not after elections, not after economic gains, but now, as a matter of urgency. Every person on Earth deserves:
Enough food to eat A place to sleep in peace A community to belong to A future to hope for
Food security, climate justice, education, health care, and economic dignity must not be postponed for politics or postponed for profit. They are not luxuries—they are rights.
Your Table is Your Legacy
Whether you lead a household or a nation, ask yourself:
Who gets to eat when I am in charge?
What do I give—freedom or feedom?
You don’t need wealth to serve humanity. You need heart. You don’t need power to make a difference. You need compassion. From the smallest act of giving a meal to a hungry child, to the biggest decision of writing national policy—service is sacred.
Rockwell painted a vision. My mother lived it. And now, we are all being called to rise to it.
Let the Table Be Wide
In a world that builds walls and hoards resources, let us be the ones who build longer tables. Let us be the ones who see leadership not as a throne but as a table—where all can sit, be fed, be heard, and be healed.
All lives matter not just in slogans, but in action.
When asked to lead, remember:
You were called to serve, not to shine.
To feed, not to rule.
To put humanity first.
Let Freedom from Want be more than a painting—it must be a mission.
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