EVERYONE HAS INFINITE WORTH
Ronald S. Sison
We often hear some people saying: “No matter how much or how badly a person has sinned; once he meets his end - it is only then when we will be able to realize his true worth.” For us, he might be the meanest and most evil creature in this world. Our hatred towards him becomes more intense; and so, our forgiveness seems elusive and impossible. However, according to an ethical principle: “Every person has inherent worth and dignity.” Man is by nature good. It is not man who is evil, but the society that has been created and evolved through time. How can he be a civilized individual in an environment of heinous crimes such as murder, sexual assault, rape, robbery, and kidnapping? Genesis 1:27 claims that God created man in his own image. Therefore, if the Divine Creator is good; then, each and every one of us has a natural tendency to be like Him.
In 1993, our very own, Sharmaine Ruffa Gutierrez was asked this question in Miss World Beauty Pageant held in Sun City, South Africa: How would you tell a girl who is suffering from low self-esteem to feel better about herself? Calm and confident, she answered: “I will tell her to believe in herself because it is not only physical beauty that is important but also inner beauty. Like what the Little Princess said, “What is essential is invisible to the naked eye.” And I believe that character and personality are more important than physical beauty.” She never failed to make her compatriots proud, as she landed Second Princess in that glitzy celebration of beauty. There are several individuals who feel depressed and insecure about the way they look. On the other hand, there are also those who are dominant, egoistic, and overbearing due to their glamour and roster of achievements. There is a cliché that goes, “Image is nothing, Character is everything.” In today’s time, our eyes have become subjective in so far as beauty is concerned. We must keep in mind that physical beauty does not last forever, but a beautiful personality does. Our brothers and sisters may look upon us in numerous ways. All of us have our own value or worth. God created us equal, yet everyone is unique.
DepEd employees all over the nation work concertedly towards a common goal. They may have varied levels of intelligence or competence. Some are endowed with much acumen or wit; but others are not. The self-worth of employees, who are not so intellectually gifted, comes from their endearing qualities. They may have commendable attitude towards work, good human relations, and credibility beyond doubt. These are enough to offset their mediocrities. God has showered us abundant blessings - only in different ways. We must not be intimidated by other’s success. People who cannot stand to see the success of others will never experience their own. Envy is ignorance. It is ignoring our God-given talents and gifts.
At times, we tend to ask ourselves: Do other people, except for our friends, put us on a pedestal? How do they look upon us? Do they appreciate every effort that we make or do they just take it for granted?
My parents brought me up in a quite conservative way. When I was still young, they cared greatly about my studies, how I carried myself, who my friends were, and how I spent my time. Back then, I felt that I had a lot of friends, who were going through problems, precisely because they had so much freedom to do what they wanted. If we come to think of it, having parents who are strict disciplinarians will benefit us in the long run. They want to lead us to a straight path that will enable us to easily chase our dreams. Once we realize our goals in life, it is only then that we can be in the state of the so-called ecstasy – a feeling of intensely beautiful bliss.
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The author is Teacher I at Nuestra Señora Del Pilar Integrated School.