value?

What gives something value? Does it come from where it was made or who made it? Does it come from it's age or the materials used to create it?

As I prepare to talk about our value to a group of homeless people tonight, these questions come to mind. Where does my value come from? Do I create my own value? Is that a good thing? If I didn't have a home, if I didn't have a job, if I didn't have anything - would that affect my view of my value? I'd have to say - yes - even though I know it shouldn't.

My daughter made me a cup. Does it's value come from the clay - of course not. The priceless value of that cup comes from the one who made it.

I know my value is not dependant on my job, my house, my family, or my possessions. My value doesn't come from outside of me - it comes from who made me. It is not my age (thankfully) that brings me value but the one whose hands formed me before I was even aware of him.

Yet, we live in a world that puts prices on everything. Our world's pricetag creates value. A honda or a lexus will both get you across town - but one is seen as more valuable than the other.
A person that lives on the street or a person that lives in a mansion will both live lives here on earth but we give one more value than the other - we fall into the trap of thinking that value depends on the job, home, or people around us when in fact our value comes from the one who made us.

May you see yourself through the eyes of the one who made you...