The best things aren't free.

A popular saying tells us "the best things in life are free." I want to challenge that statement...but first...
Free: 11. "provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment."
Charge: 26. "expense or cost."
Payment: 1. "something that is paid; an amount paid; compensation; recompense."
Cost: 2. "an outlay or expenditure of money, time, labor, trouble, etc."
Taking this into account, the best things in life are not free...they may not require money but they are far from being without cost.
Relationships with family...friends...those you love, they are some of the most precious things in life...but the cost is great. It requires a ton of time, a whole lot of effort, and even a bit of sacrifice. They require that you give up your your pride, your arrogance, and your self. Sometimes it may not be fun or enjoyable to put yourself in someone elses shoes...to forgive...to overlook mistakes...to do the right thing in spite of your "want to." But as another saying goes,"anything worth doing is worth doing right."

A good marriage, a strong relationship with your spouse, your kids, your parents. A strong family...it will always cost you something....and it is always worth it. The same goes for strong friendships...good health...solid walk with God. Everything worth having is going to require something from you. Even the absolute best thing in life...salvation... cost more than we can ever understand. So yes...the best things in life may not require money...but they are far from free. Perhaps a better saying would be "the best things in life are the ones money cant buy."