The Best Things in Life Never Came With a Price Tag
82 Years — 82 Lessons
By Mike Cunningham | Mike's Observations
Yesterday, I found myself standing in a store, staring at a Hershey bar with almonds.
Now, I've been fond of those things for the better part of eight decades, and I was about to treat myself to a little chocolate-covered happiness.
Then I looked at the price.
TWO DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-NINE CENTS!
For a candy bar!
I stood there looking at that thing like it was made of solid gold with almonds sprinkled on top.
I remember when a Hershey bar cost a nickel. FIVE CENTS! And believe me, that nickel wasn't always easy to come by when I was a kid.
Now, I understand inflation. I know things cost more today. I've been around long enough to watch gasoline go from pennies a gallon to prices that would have given my daddy a heart attack.
But $2.89 for a Hershey bar?
Somewhere, somebody has lost their ever-loving mind!
I put it back.
Not because I couldn't afford it. Not because my doctor told me to. But because somewhere deep inside this 82-year-old brain, there's still a little boy who knows that a nickel ought to buy a candy bar.
And I'll tell you something else.
I'm still aggravated about it!
When a Quarter Made You Feel Rich
Driving home, I started remembering what life was like when I was growing up.
There was a time when a quarter in your pocket made you feel like a wealthy man.
You could walk into a little country store, look over the candy counter, and spend ten minutes trying to decide how to invest your fortune.
A candy bar? A cold soda? Maybe a handful of penny candy?
Decisions, decisions!
And the wonderful thing was that you didn't need a wallet full of money to have a good time.
We didn't have smartphones, video games, or a television in every room. We had bicycles, dirt roads, fishing poles, imagination, and enough freedom to get into a little mischief.
Our entertainment didn't come with monthly subscription fees.
It came with scraped knees, dirty clothes, and somebody hollering for us to get home before dark.
And somehow, we survived.
Matter of fact, we had a pretty good time doing it.
The Things I Remember Most Didn't Cost Much
Now that I've reached 82, I've had plenty of time to think about what really matters.
I've owned some nice things over the years. I've had boats, houses, cars, and more projects than any sensible man ought to tackle.
I've also watched some of those things disappear through fire, storms, and circumstances beyond my control.
And here's something I've learned.
You can lose everything you own without losing everything that makes life worth living.
A house can burn down. A boat can be destroyed. A bank account can shrink.
But nobody can take away the memory of a child laughing so hard he can barely catch his breath.
Nobody can take away a beautiful sunrise, the kindness of a friend, or the satisfaction of helping somebody who needed a hand.
Some of my happiest moments have been sitting around a table with family, sharing a meal, telling stories, and laughing about something that probably wasn't all that funny to begin with.
Those moments didn't require fancy restaurants or expensive entertainment.
They just required people who cared about one another.
We've Become So Busy Buying Things That We Forget to Enjoy Life
I sometimes wonder if we've confused having more with being happier.
We work to buy things, then work harder to pay for them, and before long we're too tired to enjoy what we've bought.
We upgrade our phones, replace perfectly good furniture, and chase after the latest gadgets.
Meanwhile, the sun comes up every morning without charging admission.
Birds still sing for free.
A good friend doesn't send you a monthly bill for listening to your troubles.
And a grandchild's hug is worth more than anything you'll find behind a glass counter at a jewelry store.
Maybe we ought to spend a little less time worrying about what we don't have and a little more time enjoying what God has already given us.
The Richest People Aren't Always the Ones With Money
I've known people with plenty of money who were miserable.
And I've known people who didn't have two nickels to rub together who could light up a room just by walking into it.
The difference wasn't in their bank accounts.
It was in their hearts.
Some people spend their entire lives chasing happiness, never realizing it was sitting right beside them at the supper table.
Happiness is often found in the ordinary things we overlook.
A warm home on a cold morning.
A good cup of coffee.
An old friend who remembers you when you were young and foolish—and is kind enough not to tell everybody about it.
A family that loves you, even when you're being a stubborn old coot.
And the wonderful privilege of waking up to another day.
God's Greatest Gifts Don't Have Price Tags
The older I get, the more I appreciate the simple blessings of life.
The Bible tells us in James 1:17 (NKJV):
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above..."
Think about that for a moment.
Love, forgiveness, friendship, hope, peace, and the promise of eternal life.
You can't purchase those things at Walmart.
You can't order them from Amazon.
And you certainly can't put them on a credit card.
God has filled this world with blessings that are available to the rich and poor alike.
Sometimes we're so busy counting what we lack that we forget to count what we've been given.
And maybe that's one of the most important lessons I've learned in 82 years.
A rich life isn't measured by how much you accumulate. It's measured by how much you appreciate.
And About That Candy Bar...
I suppose I should confess something.
After all this reflecting on the priceless blessings of life, I'm still thinking about that Hershey bar with almonds.
I can almost taste it.
And I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually break down and buy one.
But yesterday, I walked out of that store without my candy bar. I saved $2.89, probably saved myself a few calories, and came home with something even better.
A reminder of how much happiness I've enjoyed over the years without spending a dime.
So here's my advice.
Hug somebody you love. Call an old friend. Sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. Laugh at something silly. Thank God for another day.
And remember:
The best things in life never came with a price tag.
But if anybody knows where I can buy a Hershey bar with almonds for a nickel...
PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL!
I'm 82 years old, and I haven't completely given up hope!
From one old fellow who's learned that life is too short to forget the blessings—and apparently too expensive to buy a candy bar.
Mike Cunningham
Mike's Observations — 82 Years, 82 Lessons
mikesobservations.com
