Valuable

YOU

        are

              Valuable!

      More valuable than you can even comprehend.  

Do you remember the Master Card commercials that had a voice telling you each thing you could purchase along with the price? At the end it would show a touching memory or accomplishment and the voice would say, "priceless".  

                      THAT'S YOU.... But more! 

I know it's hard to grasp deep in your heart. It is hard for me to grasp, too. It is so much easier to see the value in other people.....at least those that are not annoying. 😊

 I wish I could grab onto your hands,
                  look you in the eye and
                                  tell you how priceless you really are.

I would tell you it has nothing to do with what you "do", how you look, what you have or even how much you give.

You are valuable, my friend, based on the part of you that makes you who you are - 

                          Your inmost being

You were created intricately by God for a unique and wonderful purpose.  He loves you so much. He even knows the number of hairs on your head.  

So, why is it so hard for us to really "get it"?

Can you imagine the difference it would make in our personal lives if we did?  

Can you imagine the difference it would make in our world if other people knew their own value as well as the value of others around them? 

Now that would be huge!

As I was thinking about this, I wondered what the Internet would say was the most valuable thing in the world.  I had high hopes of seeing a baby, a family or a group of friends popping up on my screen.

But, alas, I guess I knew deep inside I was about to see things I find much less valuable. I was not surprised to see a few painting, the Antilia (billion dollar, 34 story home in Mumbai, India) or a one of a kind pink diamond.

What I found most interesting was the number of things people slapped gold onto so they would be more expensive. How about a 4.5 billion dollar gold and platinum yacht or a gold covered sports car?

My favorite was the $1,000 sundae, the $25,000 frozen hot chocolate dessert and pizza for over $4,000. All of these contained gold as an ingredient and were served with exquisite tableware made of different crystal, gold or diamonds depending on the food.                           

 I'm really not sure about eating gold.  

 I consider myself a connoisseur of the hot fudge sundae.  I understand that one should definitely plan to pay a lot more for a sundae at a specialty restaurant in New York City rather than in a local ice cream shop in Ohio. But, what could possibly make it worth $1,000?

First, it is the imported ingredients.

- Tahitian vanilla is infused with Madagascar Vanilla in the ice cream, then it is drizzled with the world's most expensive chocolate and topped with chunks of rare Venezuelan chocolate as well as candied fruit from Paris.  

Second, extravagant ingredients are added.

- There are other unique items added, like a dessert caviar on top, as well as gold covered almonds and 23 karat shaved gold leaf.  

Finally, it is served in a $350 crystal goblet that is lined with 23k gold.  There is also an 18k gold spoon.

Friend, we are NOT like this sundae.  

As humans we often try to find our value in the same way this sundae does.  

We add bling, dress ourselves up and work to stand out from the crowd.  But, our value is still from our inmost being. It does not matter what we add to ourselves.

Guess what?  

              We are more like special oysters.

Long before cultured pearls came along, it was rare to see the phenomenon that is a  natural pearl.  They are found by the water, often within the sand and hidden inside an oyster.  The odds of finding one are about 1:12,000. (Spey.com). 

By looking with the human eye, we may never realize the great value of one particular oyster, especially in its natural environment.   

By looking at the surface anyone could miss this rare treasure.

But God knows where every single oyster is that contains a pearl.  

                         He also knows the real you. 

He created you in his image and knew you before you were even born.  He sent his son to pay the ultimate price for you.  He has loved you from the very beginning.  He knows you as the treasure he created you to be. 

The part of you that is deep inside - the part that makes you....you, is exactly the part that is of more value than either of us could comprehend.  

Oh, how I hope we can begin to see this treasure in each other and in ourselves. 

My prayer for you today is that this will penetrate your heart.

Never Forget the Truth.....

        You are so, so Valuable💕