Recently an acquaintance of mine has been presented with a difficult situation. She has lost sleep, cried tears of sorrow and asked for God to ease her pain.
Not knowing exactly what to say, I began to think, quite deeply about the value of people in our lives. Sometimes it is difficult to see their value, and other times, it’s very ease.
Back when I was born, my other Grandmother thought my parents were quite reckless to have another child. Three children! Oh dear. In fact she saw so little value in my birth, that she did not tell her family back in Canada of my birth. My great aunt Mamie, and I met when I was 30 years old! Mamie was 92!
I was talking to my mother about it on Saturday and we agreed that the fact that she had my sister and me has been a real blessing to her in her old age.
You see, sometimes we can’t see the full value of the people in our lives when, perhaps we should.
My acquaintance, is finding that as much as she loves and cares, her feeling are not being returned. In fact, the people involved are being cruel and find no value in her at all.
I told her that God doesn’t make junk. There are times we are tested, and we have to persevere. After all, we ourselves know, we have VALUE.
For many years, I was angry at my mother for bitter words we had exchanged. I didn’t visit, I didn’t call. I was cruel.
But then, I began to see the value of my mother. She will be 83 this year. I’d better stop being so haughty, and start finding the love, because if I don’t she’ll be gone and I will never have the chance to tell her…
Mom, you have value to me in my life.
So, my advice to my acquaintance was to give the worries to God. Let the Lord handle it. You cannot make someone like you, even if your feelings for them are pure. Some people will, sadly, never know the value of those who love them.
Amen! Lovely! Love YOU so much! Mel
Such wise words. I hope your friend takes them to heart and values herself for her many attributes which are not appreciated.
Hey MB 🙂 I agree very much that people have different sorts of value in our lives, we just need the patience to see them for it. 🙂 Hope you had a good weekend!
most excellent advice … and similarly, when we found out we were pregnant w/ our baby (now 2) when our older 2 kids were already 9 & 11 years old, some of my relatives asked if it was an accident or said “I’m sorry” instead of “congratulations” but I value that baby more than anything as my personal gift from God. What WE value and what others value often are very different.
What a wonderful post. My mother and I are alike in so many ways-for good and not so good : ) I was visiting last week and she told me I’m a treasure. I wasn’t feeling so much like one because I can be moody and was in a mood. I have thought so much about her words since. I know I’m lucky to have my mom in my life still and you are so right. We need to value the people in our path. Enjoy your week!
Nice post Maribeth. Sometimes the reason people fail to see the value of others in their lives is because they are too focused on themselves- how they feel, what they want, and how they can’t be the one to let go of the bad feelings. In the meantime, life goes on. Very nice!