My Value...  My Worth...

Things, even people, are not always... as they appear!

My Value...  My Worth...

~~~~~

Some relatives of ours surprised us one day with a gift.  It was a 1968 car, which had ALL of it's original parts, including  an olive green and somewhat rusted paint job.  With it's old and battered body, this vehicle still had a bit of personality left in it.  We named it our 'Hill-Billy' ride... :o)

We needed some items from the grocery store, and decided to take the car out for a spin.  As my husband was warming  the engine up, I jumped into a pair of cover-alls, tennis shoes and slapped on a baseball cap, to sort of keep with the car's hill-billy theme.  My husband couldn't stop laughing when I sat in the car.

We live in a small community, one where everyone knows everyone else. But... on this particular day,  it seems I wasn't recognized by my neighbors, as we drove into the supermarket parking lot in our newly acquired set of wheels...

Instead of the kind greetings and courtesy I usually receive from the employees when I arrive in my own vehicle, I was all but shunned.  I could hardly believe how rudely I was treated by the SAME individuals who generally go-out-of-their -way to offer assistance to me when I shop there.

While I was searching for an item on one isle of the store, the store manager and an employee were on an adjacent isle.  I overheard the employee telling the manager about the broken down old car that had rattled into the parking lot, and the bums who were driving it...  The manager instructed this employee to, "Keep an eye on her, she'll probably try to steal something."  She then cleared her throat and said, "I wish people like that would just stay where they belong, and NOT come around this store."

I stood there stunned for a moment.  "Could this be the same generous individual who usually greets me with a big smile and hug?"

I gathered my senses, and then walked around the corner to her isle. They both seemed a bit nervous as I approached, as if they were afraid that I would rob them at gun point or something.  I stood there for a moment, and then pulled off my cap and sunglasses.

The manager's eyes flew open and the employee's jaw dropped, almost simultaneously.  The manager then smiled with relief and  said, "I had no idea that was you,"  and she opened her arms in an attempt to hug me.  I stood back... simply looking at them...

I said, "I'm really disappointed that you would sneer at someone or instruct your employees to mistreat a person, just because of the clothing they wear or the car that they drive."    I added, "Who we are spiritually, has NOTHING to do with our material wealth or outer appearances."

I then reached out and hugged her.

 While still embraced, I said ,

  "EVERYONE is worth being kind to...  If you base your opinions of others on their outer appearance(s), then you're not looking for the light and love inside.  If you don't see that light, then you'll have no idea whatsoever who they truly are, and you may pass up an opportunity to make a new friend!"  

^i^  Lyn  ^i^

I am an individual who deserves respect and kindness, regardless of my material 'appearance'...

So Are YOU!

It's hard to KNOW what's in another's heart...

Can your worth be defined by what others 'think' they see?

Should YOU believe that you are less than others, because THEY say so?

I think not..... :o)

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