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BEAUTY THAT LASTS: 
How many cows am I worth?

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A traveler researching the customs of a small island village learned early on of its tradition of paying a bride's father a dowry in the form of livestock. Two or three cows would meet the marriage requirements, but four or five might be paid for an exceptionally desirable woman.

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Along with this knowledge, he also learned the story of a bright and wealthy young man who paid the unheard of amount of eight cows for his wife. This tale intrigued the traveler even more when he heard the derisive rumors that the girl had been particularly shy and plain.

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The traveler soon had the opportunity to visit the man that drew both respect and ridicule from the local people. As they spoke, a woman gracefully entered the room, head held high, and a serene smile on her face. The visitor was stunned by his wife's beauty and felt compelled to express his confusion over the rumors that circulated the island towns.

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The man wisely explained that how valuable a woman feels is the image she projects to the outside. He had not used eight cows to purchase outward beauty; he had simply given the girl he loved the gift of believing she was worth more than any other bride on the islands.

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As a child, I loved hearing this true story, ironic in its romantic simplicity. It drifted through my thoughts recently, however, as I considered some of the issues many women struggle with today. Our society values youth and beauty so greatly, despite the fact that they inevitably fade, that women feel the need to desperately fight the hands of time in an attempt to accomplish our many goals, and look good while doing so.

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This phenomenon forced me to wonder about the qualities that we can develop and nurture in ourselves in order to remain truly attractive throughout our lives. What was the difference between the girl that no one believed was worth marrying and the woman who startled the traveler with her beauty? Nothing, except confidence. She began to wear the peace and security she felt within her on the outside.

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Most likely none of us have any suitors lined up outside with gifts of cattle, but can we take the time to give ourselves the gift of confidence? I would urge you to look each day through the eyes of others and see all the ways you matter in your relationships and in the world around you. You were created for a purpose. Find your value, and begin living with a beauty that lasts.

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