Are You A Diamond In The Rough
Diamonds are made under heat and pressure!
The wife has been compared to a ruby in the book of Proverbs but are you a diamond in the rough? Rubies like diamonds are determined by color, cut, clarity and carat when it comes to the all important determination of price. The Urban Dictionary definition of a diamond in the rough is classic: The is metaphorical and relates to the fact that naturally occurring diamonds are quite ordinary at first glance, and that their true beauty as jewels is only realized through the cutting and polishing process. So I ask, ‘are you a diamond in the rough?’
When I was reading up on the how diamonds are formed and the similarities in rubies I could not help but see parallels to how we as wives are formed and polished through the process of marriage and life. Stay with me while I explain about the four C’s: cut, color, clarity and carat.
Cut:
Both get their brilliance, flash and sparkle of light by the cutting and polishing process which allows the maximum amount of light to be reflected in the jewels and dispersed back through its top. If the stone is cut too shallow or too deep the maximum beauty is never realized. This reminded me of the parable of the seeds, (Mark 4:1-20) and I pray you are like a seed sown on good soil–hearing, accepting and producing.
Color:
Did you know diamonds come naturally in every color of the rainbow? The best color is no color at all , although they range from colorless to light yellow. Rubies on the other hand are all shades of red, including some pink–a minimum color saturation is required to be considered a ruby rather than a pink sapphire. It has been found that a gem-quality ruby will exceed the price of a diamond of the same size!
Clarity:
This is determined in both diamonds and rubies by the inclusions which are tiny birthmarks. The interesting thing about inclusions is the less you have in a diamond the closer the gem comes to being flawless. In the case of the ruby the lack of inclusions indicates the gem has been treated and this can change the value. As human beings we are marked with various birthmarks and traits which create a uniqueness in each one of us.
Carat:
When the size and the weight increase so does the rarity and price of both diamonds and rubies. As we grow in faith and maturity our spiritual value increases too!
When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure. Peter Marshall
Diamonds are actually harder than rubies but more interesting than that is the process by which both are formed through extreme heat and pressure. As wives we go through life processes which involve heat and pressure in various senses of the words and this is what takes us from the state of being a diamond in the rough to a shiny, sparkling light set up on a hill (Matthew 5:14-16).
Are you a diamond in the rough? How is your marriage cutting and polishing you to be a light to others?
Kim
