The email said I could get some cute little Bumgenius 4.0s for free (I've wanted to try them, but I bought the allotment of diapers that we need). All I needed to do was spread the word about it in a creative way, aka, a blog post. I also entered by writing something lame on facebook.
But it got me to thinking about the word itself. Especially because I was thinking about entering the contest yesterday, September 11th. We took our oldest two kids to an Orchestral concert last night that had a pictorial tribute about 9/11 and lots of beautiful and patriotic music (and it was free--though we did make a donation)! But I was observing how it was emphasized that we live in the land of the free.
Some of twins' friends sang in a choir featuring the song "Simple Gifts" which I came to love as a girl from Aaron Copeland's music. Here are the lyrics: 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gain'd, To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd, To turn, turn will be our delight, 'Til by turning, turning we come round right.
This song is a religious Shaker tune that is referring to "the gift" of their faith. Freedom is obviously a gift also, so I thought that it was a beautiful tribute expressing American patriotism.
In contemplating all of this, I thought about how often the word free is mentioned in the scriptures. Here are a few: Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
John 8:31-36 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for eve; but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
2 Nephi:27 "Wherefore men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."
Helaman 14:30 "And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free."
God had a hand in the direction of how this country was established, paving the way for religious freedom and human rights which many other countries have now also incorporated into their governments. God also gave his Son as the perfect example of how to live, and gave us the freedom to choose whether we would follow. While I know I make mistakes in my ability to choose, and I'm learning that even things touted as free have their cost, (though it isn't always monetary), I am so grateful that I have the chance to experience what the word free means.
