She looked at me, her eyes bright with emotion.
« Whenever I feel worthless, » she said, « I think about Benedita. I think about how she stood in that auction square, head held high, and refused to be broken. And I think about how Francisco saw her not as a commodity, but as a person. »
She took my hand.
« We all have the capacity to see people the way Francisco saw Benedita, » she said. « Or we can be like the people who laughed. It’s a choice. »
I’ve never forgotten that.
Benedita was a woman who was bought for seven cents—and she lived a life of immeasurable worth.
Have you ever been overlooked or undervalued, only to find your worth in the eyes of someone who truly saw you? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how you found your strength.
