A story of value

Today’s story is that of value.  I find stories in my travels and they setup for a beautiful talk I will do in the future.   It is how I find a way to connect with those that are present.

A Lady Buys Eggs

A Lady asks, “How much do you sell your eggs for?” The old vendor replies “50¢ an egg, madam.” The Lady says, I’ll take 6 eggs for $2.50 or I’m leaving. The old salesman replies Buy them at the price you want, Madam. This is a good start for me because I haven’t sold a single egg today and I need this to live. She bought her eggs at a bargain price and left with the feeling that she had won.

The woman got into her fancy car and went to a fancy restaurant with her friend. She and her friend ordered what they wanted. They ate a little and left a lot of what they had asked for. So they paid the bill, which was $150. The ladies gave $200 and told the fancy restaurant owner to keep the change as a tip.
This story might seem quite normal to the owner of the fancy restaurant, but very unfair to the egg seller.

The question it raises is:

• Why do we always need to show that we have power when we buy from the needy?
• And why are we generous to those who don’t even need our generosity?
  

I once read this somewhere, that a father used to buy goods from poor people at high prices, even though he didn’t need the things. Sometimes he paid more for them. I was amazed. One day I asked him “why are you doing this dad?” Then my father replied: “It’s charity wrapped in dignity, son.”

I know that most of you will not share this message, but if you are one of the people who have taken the time to read this far…