What am I worth?

One day, a little boy asked his father, “What am I worth?”?

Instead of answering the question, the father gave his son a beautiful shiny stone. He then said,?“Take this rock and go offer it at a market. However, do not accept any offer. Bring the rock back to me. If anybody asks for the price, raise two fingers and do not say anything,”.

The boy then went to the market. A man approached him and asked, “How much does this rock cost? I want to put it in my garden.”

The boy did not say anything and raised two fingers.?

Seeing the two raised fingers, the man said, “I’ll take it for $2”.?

The boy went home and told his father, “A man at the market wants to buy this rock for $2.”?

The father said, “Son I want you to take this rock to the museum, and if someone asks for the price, raise two fingers. Do not say a word.”?

The boy then went to the museum, and soon a man showed interest in buying the rock. The boy did not say anything and raised two fingers.?

The man said, “$200? I’ll take it.” The boy was shocked. He went back home with the rock in his hand and said, “Father, a man wants to buy this rock for $200.”

His father then said, “There is one last place I’d like you to offer this rock. Take it to the jeweller and show it only to the owner. Don’t say a word. If he asks for the price, raise two fingers.”?

The son went to the jeweller and showed the rock to the owner.

“Where did you find this?”, the owner asked. “This is a precious unpolished gem. One of the most valuable gems in the whole world. I must have it. What price would you take for it?”?

The boy did not say anything and raised two fingers. To which the man replied, “$2000000? That is a bargain, I’ll take it!”?

The boy, not knowing what to say, went running home to his father. He carefully held on to his priceless gem, fearing that he might lose it.?

“Father there is a man who wants to buy this rock for $2000000!” The father said, “Son you have been carrying in your hands, one of the most precious objects of our family. It is truly priceless!”

He then asked the little boy, "Son do you now know what you are worth?” To which the son replied, "My worth is much like this rock. It depends on who is looking at me. Some may place a value of $2, others $200, and some others two million dollars. I must surround myself with other precious souls who recognise the greatest value of my life because it is my most precious possession.?I must not allow it to be undervalued. I am priceless."

I don’t know who originally wrote this story. I have read it several times and each time I reread it, my appreciation for it grows.

I think there are times in our life when we question our place in this world and ask ourselves, “What am I worth?”. This story guides us towards the answer. Each one of us has a unique gem within us. We can choose to surround ourselves with people who see our light.?

Likewise, we can choose to see the hidden gem in others and help them shine bright. As Brené Brown says, “You want to surround yourself with people, who, when your light is shining bright think ‘wow, what a beautiful light’!".

Who are some people who see your light and value the gem within you? And who are some people within whom you see a gleaming hidden gem? Have you told them about it yet?