Purses

A few nights ago I had a very disturbing dream. I was supposed to write about it the next morning, but the indications were too grave. In the dream I left my purse outside of a store. I was with someone who was driving and looking for a parking spot, and I had left my purse in the care of a friend who was supposed to watch it until we parked. On the second or third time around the friend was gone, and my purse was just sitting there unattended. Not only did I panic in the dream, but I was still panicky when I woke up. It took me awhile to realize that my purse was safe, and it was just a dream. Why was this so significant? A few years ago I heard a domestic violence survivor compare ourselves to our purses. She said that women will not leave their purses unattended, but they would place their lives in the hands of someone who abused them. Wow! That’s deep. Especially when I realized the depth of what she was saying. None of my friends would even place their purses on the floor beside them, but I know that many of us have been in relationship with someone who treated us callously, maybe in words, deeds, or actions. The dream shook me and so did what that domestic survivor said. Women, we are valuable. Yet many of us place more value on the Michael Kors or Coach bags on our shoulders than how we allow people to treat us. I’ve been guilty of allowing myself to be treated callously. I have been guilty of giving way too many chances only to get nothing but disregard in return. My prayers are with all of us. Look at your purse. Look at your life and the people who are closest to you. Where have you really placed value?