Better than Gold

Eight-year-olds Marvin and Frank were enemies first, then the best of friends. After ending up in the same classes from 3rd grade on, the two became closer than brothers.

But the older they got, the further apart they grew. You see, Frank's parents were wealthy; Marvin's were not. When they graduated high school, Frank went off to college to study criminal justice and eventually became a police officer. Marvin went to work at the local factory for minimum wage. Their paths didn't cross again for fifteen years.

One winter, before Christmas, Marvin's ten-year-old daughter asked for only one thing. All she wanted was a locket necklace to keep a picture of her late mother in.

Such a small gift, yet her father's heart broke that he couldn't afford it.

In desperation on Christmas Eve, Marvin broke into the jewelry store hoping to grab a simple locket. Unfortunately, he didn't realize the store had an alarm that automatically dialed the police.

Panicked, he scrambled around the shop looking for a locket, but the sirens were getting louder.

Just as he was about to give up, a glimmer of something gold caught his eye. The perfect locket tucked away behind the counter!

As he was reaching for it, a voice yelled, "stop right there!"

Marvin made the mistake of turning to face his pursuer.

A flash of recognition crossed the police officer's face, and his weapon lowered an inch.

The shock gave Marvin enough time to escape out the side door, but in haste he dropped the locket.

Marvin ran as fast as he could back to his house, certain he would spend Christmas behind bars. That night, he tossed and turned, waiting for the sound of a knock on the door, but it never came and he eventually dozed off.

Christmas morning, he peeked out the window expecting to see a cop car, but instead, just saw a small white box on the porch.

He opened the door and picked up the box. There was no note inside.

Only a single gold locket.

“The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken." - C.S. Lewis

Compassion is not pity

There is a sense of superiority in pity.
There is judgment in pity.
There is arrogance in pity.

Compassion is all honor.
Compassion is humility.
Compassion is dignity.

Pity sees a person's faults.
Compassion sees a person's worth.

Pity looks down on a person.
Compassion respects the struggles of a person.

Our weakness opens us up to receive love.
Others' weakness opens us up to give love.

Dignity is a gift that never gets old.
How lucky we are if we receive it.
How lucky we are if we can give it.