by Gary Smalley
There was a Polysenian island tradition that when a man wanted a bride, he had to give payment to her parents something that he believed to be of equal value to what she was worth. Most men would give a pig, chicken, parrot or some similar small animal. For the most beautiful of all women, a man might even be willing to give one of his prized cows.
One woman in the village who had just reached marriage-able age was considered to be a little more plain and ordinary than most. Yet every girl had a few suitors, and she was no exception. One of these young men offered her parents a rabbit, another a chicken, and another a goose. One suitor came along, however, and offered the girl's father ten of his finest cows. Everyone was stunned. Such a bride price was unheard of. All other young man walked away in disgust. No woman is worth that!
The new suitor was thought to be foolish and extravagant. But he knew what he was doing. knowing the value her suitor placed on her, this Polynesian plain Jane began to hold her head higher as she strolled through the villages. She, after all, was now the famous "ten-cow woman." She paid more attention to her speech, her dress, and her way of conducting herself. She became more confident and elegant. Her facial expressions became kind and gentle, her body movements graceful and elegant, her voice soft and caring. In short, she became what she believed her worth to be and developed into the most stunning, beautiful, and graceful woman on the entire string of islands.
Everyone marveled at the young woman's transformation, and all thought the lucky young man had received full value of his bride price. And indeed he had. The young woman responded to his honor by living up to his estimation of her. She rose to be worthy of the honor he bestowed upon her. He now felt like he was living with the queen.
**If you place a high enough value upon someone, that person will usually move to justify that value.
There was a Polysenian island tradition that when a man wanted a bride, he had to give payment to her parents something that he believed to be of equal value to what she was worth. Most men would give a pig, chicken, parrot or some similar small animal. For the most beautiful of all women, a man might even be willing to give one of his prized cows.
One woman in the village who had just reached marriage-able age was considered to be a little more plain and ordinary than most. Yet every girl had a few suitors, and she was no exception. One of these young men offered her parents a rabbit, another a chicken, and another a goose. One suitor came along, however, and offered the girl's father ten of his finest cows. Everyone was stunned. Such a bride price was unheard of. All other young man walked away in disgust. No woman is worth that!
The new suitor was thought to be foolish and extravagant. But he knew what he was doing. knowing the value her suitor placed on her, this Polynesian plain Jane began to hold her head higher as she strolled through the villages. She, after all, was now the famous "ten-cow woman." She paid more attention to her speech, her dress, and her way of conducting herself. She became more confident and elegant. Her facial expressions became kind and gentle, her body movements graceful and elegant, her voice soft and caring. In short, she became what she believed her worth to be and developed into the most stunning, beautiful, and graceful woman on the entire string of islands.
Everyone marveled at the young woman's transformation, and all thought the lucky young man had received full value of his bride price. And indeed he had. The young woman responded to his honor by living up to his estimation of her. She rose to be worthy of the honor he bestowed upon her. He now felt like he was living with the queen.
**If you place a high enough value upon someone, that person will usually move to justify that value.
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