One summer I learned a valuable lesson from a starfish. I was staying at the beach with my parents. My mom came home from a day of shopping, and was eager to show me her purchases. She carefully unwrapped the tissue paper she removed from her bag to reveal beautiful, blown-glass pendants in different shapes...sea horses, crabs, dolphins and starfish. I "oohed" and "aahed" over each unique creation. I especially loved the vibrant colors and shapes of the starfish she had purchased.

When Mom told me that each one only cost $5.00, I asked her if she would take me there so I could purchase some as gifts. When we got to the store, we had to squeeze through the crowded aisles to the counter. Mom told the owner of the store that we'd like to look at the blown-glass pendants. He brought out three huge cardboard boxes filled with hundreds of different pendants...teddy bears, elephants, giraffes, etc., etc. I started pulling out the starfish to see which one I liked the best.

But after I sorted through all the starfish and other pendants, they all started to look junky and cheap to me. Mom said she'd like to buy me a starfish but I decided that I really didn't want anything. She bought a few more pendants for other people and I left the store without buying anything.

We decided to stroll down the street and visit the other shops. I noticed a nice jewelry shop that had a pretty display in the window and we headed in that direction. When we entered the shop, there were cases filled with sparkling diamond rings and other fine jewelry. Then, I noticed a case of sterling silver jewelry.

As I walked over to the case, I saw that adjacent to it were three velvet lined shelves containing: STARFISH!-the uniquely created one-of-a-kind blown-glass pendants that we had just seen in the other shop. However, these were displayed artfully in a stunning arrangement-only five starfish in the case, three dangling on necklaces.

Glancing over at mother, I asked the clerk how much the starfish pendant cost without the necklace. I was shocked when she said, $59.00, because I knew that the same artist must have created the starfish at both stores. Mom and I made a hasty exit so Mom could buy me a $59.00 starfish for $5.00!

The lesson from my starfish was this: We can create value for things. When the starfish was displayed in a torn, cardboard box with a hundred other items, I perceived it as junk. When it was artfully displayed in an upscale jewelry store, it became a desired treasure.

We can also create value for the people in our lives...by the way we talk about them, to them, and behave towards them. When we tell others wonderful things about our parent, our husband, our child or our pastor, we create value for that person. The Scriptures in I Thessalonians and Ephesians instruct us to "build others up".

We can actually diminish someone's value with relatively small acts...with negative words and non-verbal actions like rolling our eyes, making dismissive gestures, or impatient facial expressions. Likewise, we can increase someone's value as we speak loving words and practice the positive "motions" that Pastor Joel has taught us in our recent sermon series. These pro "motions" will promote the value of others!