The importance of knowing your worth

As I sat, enjoying a quiet evening at home, the sounds of children playing pierced the silence. Shortly after the loss of two of our family’s beloved pet cats, Leona and I gave in an allowed the girls to adopt two energetic farm kittens.

The squeals of joy emendated throughout the entire house as the girls entered their third week of motherhood for their little furry babies. Quickly transitioning from the bedroom area to the living rooml the girls began describing the latest antics the kittens had done, assuring us that the babies were simply the most precious things alive.

As I listened intently, happy that the girls were able to find joy in our newest family members, Leona began joking about how at one time, while she was young, she had accumulated a rather large herd of outside cats, to her father’s dismay.

Why the multitude of furry little beasts routinely followed her home and decided to encamp under their porch was truly the question for the ages according to Leona, as she flashed a Cheshire like grin on her face. She eventually broke down and admitted to the girls that she would routinely walk around as she played and when she came across an old, raggedy cat, she would fall in love and begin playing with it.

Her deep love and compassion for those strays caused her to ensure their needs were met, although secretly, by placing ample amounts of food out for them. The interaction would eventually end up at her home where she continued to care for the small animals, ensuring that they knew they were loved by one little girl from Louisiana.

As Leona relayed this childhood story to the girls, I couldn’t help but draw several inferences to how this beautiful, intelligent woman’s childhood experiences had inadvertently transferred onto her children. Children are simply much more accepting, attentive, and visionary then most adults are. I thought about all the cats which have innocently wandered onto the motel property. Assuredly, only wishing to find a meal, do a little exploring, or see what was going on, only to be swooped up by one of my beautiful children, forever having their lives altered for the good by someone who fell in love with them.

Thinking about the joy the girls derive from their kittens and their deeply instilled desire to care for animals, my mind instantly thought about how it is important to remember that we should never let anyone tell us or treat us like we are not worth full price. Within each of us lies value. Regardless of whether we are rich or not so well off, strong or weak, frazzled because of life or right where we need to be, we have worth and deserve to be treated as such.

As with the stray cats, each of us need a friend, someone who will swoop them up and simply show that they care and are willing to understand. Take a moment to explore all the good that lays around us friends, be willing to see beyond the outward appearance and into the true heart of others. For when we look beyond the dirt and rubble, it is then that we may just find a gem meant just for us.

Richard J. Stephens lives in Carter County and is the father of three little ladies ranging in age from eight to 29.