The first woman, enjoying the admiration, added one more story. Holding up her wrist so the sunlight caught a dazzling sparkle, she said, “And when my third child was born, he gave me this diamond bracelet. Truly, nothing but the best for his wife.”
The second woman’s eyes twinkled with quiet amusement as she rocked back gently in her chair. Once more, she replied with the same calm sweetness:
“Well, isn’t that nice?”
Finally, curiosity got the better of the first lady. She leaned in and asked, “And tell me, dear, what did your husband give you when your first child was born?”
The second lady paused, her smile turning thoughtful, and said with a touch of humor:
“He gave me something you can’t see on a porch or wear on your wrist—he gave me the gift of learning to be a better listener, a better partner, and a better mother. And that, my dear, has been more valuable than any mansion, car, or diamond.”
The porch grew quiet for a moment, the cicadas still singing in the distance. It was a gentle reminder that sometimes the greatest treasures are not the ones we can hold, but the ones that shape who we are.
What about you? Do you think the most meaningful gifts are the ones money can buy—or the lessons and love we carry with us through life? Share your thoughts below—I’d love to hear your perspective.