by Dr. H. Wade Paris
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On a south sea island, there lived a shy girl named Sy, the fifth daughter and last child of a family who wanted a son. She grew up being told she was a disappointment. The family needed a son. As you might expect, she was disappointed in herself and lacked self- esteem.
In her culture, men purchased wives from the fathers. Suitors courted the girls; and when they found one they liked, they made an offer to the father. A sheep or two goats was a fair price. A few less desirable girls had sold for a pig or a few chickens. The highest known bid was two cows paid for the fairest maid on the island. Sy was not ugly, but she was no raving beauty either. Consequently, Sy disappointed all her suitors and would soon be 20 — too old for anyone to want.
Imagine everyone’s surprise when Sy’s wedding was announced. Even more, the entire island was in disbelief when they learned her fiancée had paid 10 cows for her. Ten cows! “What on earth does he see in her?” they asked.
Sy asked the same question, “What do you see in me that you would pay such a price?”
“I see beauty,” her wise suitor answered. “Like a precious gem yet to be polished, I see beauty; and I love you.”
“You love me?” No one on the island married for love. They married for sheep and goats and chickens. “You love me?”
Sy became a different girl. Maybe she was of more value than she knew. Her shyness disappeared. She no longer walked looking down; she held her head high. She mixed among her friends and learned to bargain at the mart. In the years that followed, she made her husband the best wife ever for she was a 10-cow bride.*
Here is an interesting point about this story. Sy did not receive the 10 cows. No, her father got the cows. All Sy got was a sense of what she was worth. Maybe that is the purpose of Valentine gifts — not what the gift costs, but what it says about the worth of the person to whom it is given.
Want to know what you are worth? Check out what Jesus paid for you!
(You can email Bro. Paris at [email protected])