No Free Lunch?

Copyright 2012:  Singeronthesand

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

I was raised by a father who firmly believed that "There is no such thing as a free lunch," "You can't get something for nothing," and "No one is going to hand you that on a silver platter."  Although I clearly understood that he was trying to teach me that I needed to work for what I wanted instead of expecting someone else (including my parents) to provide it for me, I also knew that occasionally (rarely?), you do luck out and score a freebie.

Today I made my semi-annual trip to Falls Church, Virginia (on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.), to visit Fox's Music store.  This is a two hour trip from my home just south of Richmond up super-busy I-95, but there is no other full-service music store anywhere in my area.  The commute is harrowing at times, but I really enjoy my time browsing through the shelves and boxes of choral, handbell, organ and piano music.  The downside comes in the cost of printed music these days  - certainly not the 35¢ a sheet of my childhood.  Handbell music runs around $4.50 per piece, and choral music is routinely over $2.00.

Imagine my surprise today when the Choral Department's manager directed my attention to two large boxes of choral music and eight similar boxes of handbell music (multiple copies of each piece) prominently marked FREE in big red letters.  I was so stunned I simply stood there and stared.  Finally, I looked at her and said, "You are giving away multiple copies of handbell music???"  She smiled, nodded, and said, "Yes, we are cleaning house.  There is simply way too much music and not enough room."  She encouraged me to go through all of the boxes and take as much or as little as I wanted.  I certainly didn't need another invitation!

God specializes in freebies.  He daily pours down grace in abundance, blessings without cost, love without measure.  All we need is an open mind and a willing heart.