When I was thirteen I was in a children's choir. It was a very professional little choir. We performed often and even traveled to venues outside of my home state, Virginia. We had to fund raise annually to provide for these trips. So one year we decided to have a huge spaghetti dinner and a silent auction.
I was completely absorbed with preparations for the event. I worked very hard to invite as many of my friends as I could. I also petitioned them for donations for the silent auction. I envisioned buckets of money and thousands of choir fans in response to my efforts. Over the weeks leading up to auction night, I gathered all sorts of things: snow tires, a dresser, and a dozen or so cookie tins.
The cookie tins were by far my favorite. They had adorable, seasonal themes and were shiny and colorful. Of course, the tins were going to be auctioned no matter what, but it seemed criminal to auction them empty! So, I set to work flipping through my mom's cookie recipes and writing up a shopping list. The night before the dinner, I threw on an apron and got to work. I spent five or six hours baking cookies. Chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, ginger snaps, and snicker doodles flew in and out of the oven. After they cooled, I carefully arranged them in the tins with parchment paper laid in between layers of cookies. By the end of the night, the tins were beautifully overflowing with tasty goodness. They practically glittered.
Auction night came and I anxiously waited until the end of the silent auction. I was positive my cookies would bring in a fortune. However, when the auction had ended, I saw the bids listed next each item. With horror I realized that each of my cookie tins had sold for......1¢.
My face fell. My whole soul drooped. What had happened? I certainly had put more than a penny's worth of work into those cookies! They were perfect! How could someone be so mean! I felt completely distraught. If only those mean auction people understood how much I had worked on those cookie tins.
Heavenly Father has told us that "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God"(Doctrines and Covenants 18:10).
Christ also taught, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7).
I am sure that to God, we are like those shiny cookie tins were to me. Actually, we are worth a lot more to Him. Just as I was appalled by my cookies selling for 1¢, I am sure that when we judge ourselves or others to be of less value, He likewise is distraught.
Champion Good! Value people! Value yourself! You are worth a fortune!
I was completely absorbed with preparations for the event. I worked very hard to invite as many of my friends as I could. I also petitioned them for donations for the silent auction. I envisioned buckets of money and thousands of choir fans in response to my efforts. Over the weeks leading up to auction night, I gathered all sorts of things: snow tires, a dresser, and a dozen or so cookie tins.
The cookie tins were by far my favorite. They had adorable, seasonal themes and were shiny and colorful. Of course, the tins were going to be auctioned no matter what, but it seemed criminal to auction them empty! So, I set to work flipping through my mom's cookie recipes and writing up a shopping list. The night before the dinner, I threw on an apron and got to work. I spent five or six hours baking cookies. Chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, ginger snaps, and snicker doodles flew in and out of the oven. After they cooled, I carefully arranged them in the tins with parchment paper laid in between layers of cookies. By the end of the night, the tins were beautifully overflowing with tasty goodness. They practically glittered.
Auction night came and I anxiously waited until the end of the silent auction. I was positive my cookies would bring in a fortune. However, when the auction had ended, I saw the bids listed next each item. With horror I realized that each of my cookie tins had sold for......1¢.
My face fell. My whole soul drooped. What had happened? I certainly had put more than a penny's worth of work into those cookies! They were perfect! How could someone be so mean! I felt completely distraught. If only those mean auction people understood how much I had worked on those cookie tins.
Heavenly Father has told us that "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God"(Doctrines and Covenants 18:10).
Christ also taught, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7).
I am sure that to God, we are like those shiny cookie tins were to me. Actually, we are worth a lot more to Him. Just as I was appalled by my cookies selling for 1¢, I am sure that when we judge ourselves or others to be of less value, He likewise is distraught.
Champion Good! Value people! Value yourself! You are worth a fortune!
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