Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

  Inspirations – A Joe Mazzella Column

July 3, 2008

You can send all comments to Joe at: joecool@wirefire.com or to Storytime tapestry e-zine for feedback.

STILL FREE

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     I winced as I filled up the tank on my car the other day. Seeing another record high at the gas pump didn’t bode well for the rest of the day. I knew too that the food prices would be up again as well. I put just what we needed on the shopping list and nothing more. I had promised my boys that we could eat out first, so we headed to a local fast food place and gazed at the value menu. On the counter by the cash register was the half-empty box for a children’s charity. I had often put my extra change in it over the years but this time when the cashier handed the coins back to me I slowly put them in my pocket. I ate sadly still wondering about how high the prices would go when I heard my thoughts echoed by the couple in the next booth. "The prices just keep going up," said the dejected husband. "I know," his wife replied. "Everything costs an arm and a leg these days."

     In that moment of stress and worry, though, somehow the sweet voice of wisdom sounded in my mind. "God’s love is still free," it said, "and it always will be." I got up then and smiled at the couple. I fished the change back out of my pocket and some bills out of my wallet, walked over and put them in the children’s charity box. "Prices may keep going up," I thought, "but the most priceless thing in the world is still free to us all."

     The next time you feel squeezed by the price of living remember that the thing that makes life worth living is still free. God loves us and is willing to fill us with His love everyday of our lives. Even when our wallets are empty our hearts can still be full. God will always give us just what we need as well to live, learn, and love. There is no supply and demand with God’s love either because the supply is endless. The more love you give away, the more love you will have.  May we all help God share His love today then. It costs us nothing but gives us everything.