By Dr Noel Maturlu
| One sunlit afternoon, a young boy played near his family’s garden when he stumbled upon a peculiar-looking stone. It shimmered subtly under the sunlight, catching his attention. Intrigued, he picked it up and ran to his father.
“Father,” he exclaimed, “look what I found! What do you think it’s worth?” His father examined the stone thoughtfully and replied, “That’s a special find, my son. To understand its true value, I want you to take it to the market. If someone asks for its price, don’t say a word—just hold up two fingers.” The boy nodded and set off to the bustling marketplace. There, a woman approached him, eyeing the stone. “How much for this stone, young man?” she inquired.Remembering his father’s instructions, the boy silently held up two fingers. “$2?” the woman offered. “I’ll take it.” Surprised, the boy declined and hurried back home to share the encounter. His father listened and then said, “Now, take the stone to the museum. Show it to the curator, and if asked about the price, again, just hold up two fingers.” At the museum, the curator was struck by the stone’s beauty. “Where did you find this?” he asked. “It’s a remarkable specimen. How much do you want for it?” The boy raised two fingers. “$200?” the curator responded. “That’s a fair price.” Astonished, the boy rushed back to his father to relay the offer. His father smiled and said, “Finally, take the stone to the jeweler in town. If he asks for the price, you know what to do.” At the jeweler’s shop, the expert’s eyes widened upon seeing the stone. “This is one of the rarest gems I’ve ever seen,” he said. “How much are you selling it for?” The boy held up two fingers. “$20,000?” the jeweler exclaimed. “I’ll buy it immediately.” Overwhelmed, the boy returned home and told his father about the generous offer. Here are the nuggets: The same stone was valued at $2, $200, and $20,000, depending on who evaluated it. As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The stone’s true worth was recognized only by those who understood its value. Similarly, your worth doesn’t diminish because others fail to see it. Just like that precious stone, if you don’t know your value, you’ll settle for any price. Understand your worth, set your values and standards, and refuse to settle for less. People who want you should accept and treat you according to what you deserve and for who you believe you are. Set your price, and whoever wants you should either take you or leave you. We teach people how to treat us by what we accept from them. You need to see yourself through God’s eyes. According to the Bible, you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession (1 Peter 2:9). If God valued and loved you to the point of sacrificing His only Son Jesus to redeem you, why settle for less? Why seek validation from those who don’t recognize your worth? Embrace your identity as a child of the Most High God, and walk confidently in the purpose He has for you. Remember, your worth is not determined by external opinions but by the inherent value bestowed upon you by your Creator. Know who you are, uphold your standards-your two fingers and surround yourself with those who recognize and honor your true value. May the love of God and His peace, which surpass all human understanding, fill your heart now and always. |
