An 8-Cow Wife

On an isolated Pacific island, it was the custom for a young man to announce his intention of marriage to the entire village.

After the announcement, he and the whole community went to the young woman’s home. Her father would come outside and then—in front of the community—the father and suitor would barter. Obviously, there was no feminist movement on the island.

The main item of value on the island was the cow. Therefore, a suitor would offer the father a certain number of cows for his daughter. The average bride was worth two cows, perhaps three if she was unusually bright or attractive. The all time record was four cows.

The most eligible bachelor on the island was Johnny Lingo. He was handsome and wealthy. Imagine all the excitement among the women of the island when Johnny announced one day that he had selected a wife. But then he shocked everyone by announcing that his choice was a girl named Lisa. Lisa was not even in the top ten. She was regarded as plain and frightfully shy. Some of the jokers in the crowd even suggested that Lisa’s father might pay Johnny a cow or two.

The community gathered at Lisa’s house for the bartering. Then came an even greater shock. Johnny’s opening bid for Lisa was eight cows! Her father almost fainted, but he managed to say yes.

That very evening Johnny and Lisa were married, and they departed for their home on an adjacent island. For a full year no one saw Johnny and Lisa. Then on their first anniversary they returned to visit their parents. From the moment they arrived at the dock, the news spread. Everybody said, “Come and see Johnny and Lisa! You won’t believe it!”

Everybody came, but nobody noticed Johnny. All eyes were on Lisa. She had been transformed! She was a vision of loveliness. She was poised, warm, friendly, and confident.

At the end of the day, as Johnny and Lisa were preparing to return to their home, one of Johnny’s longtime friends pulled him aside and said, “I want to know the secret of this amazing transformation in Lisa. How did it happen?”

Johnny said, “I will tell you. From the time Lisa was born, she had been treated as though she was not worth very much. She had begun to believe that about herself. But I announced to the community that she was an 8-cow wife, and I have treated her just that way. She has become that vision of herself that she sees every day in my eyes.”

If you want an 8-cow wife or husband, start treating her or him that way. Give it a year and see what happens.

“Husbands . . . giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life . . . ” 1 Peter 3:7