What Do You Value?

If I were to ask you what’s most precious to you, you’d probably put family at the top of your list, right? A close second might be your close friends and those relationships that have stood the test of time. Then there’s your health, which is the one thing that might be overlooked until something goes wrong and quickly becomes priceless. You might talk about your sense of accomplishment, whether through your career or your personal passions. And of course, there’s money, a car, your home, and many other great things you can buy, contributing to your financial stability. These are the things we naturally protect and value, the things that give us meaning in life.

Today’s fortune, however, suggests that hope supersedes everything we’ve discussed so far as the most precious. But is that really true? How could anything be more precious than your family and all the good friends who love and support you? It’s saying that there’s still something greater than the things and status you’ve worked your whole life to obtain, and it’s something money can’t buy. It’s saying that there’s something more precious than health, which is even to say, life itself.

When our son was diagnosed with cancer, nothing mattered more than him. His health was our top priority. Every test result, every doctor’s visit, and every small moment of joy we could share together was worth more than anything. During those long, difficult days, and for the five years that followed as we wondered if the cancer would return, his smile became the most valuable thing in our world. But through it all, I’m wondering this morning if it was hope that allowed us to keep going, to stay present, and to hold on to those moments, even in the darkest times.

Perhaps hope is that force that keeps us moving forward and strengthens our faith, even when everything else feels uncertain. We already know how important family, health, and success are, but there’s something about hope that seems to give us the belief that, somehow, things will get better, no matter how challenging life becomes. Without hope, even the things we cherish most could lose their meaning or value. So, in that way, I can see how, as today's fortune says, "Hope is the most precious treasure to a person."