In determining the value of a diamond there are five C's to be considered: carat, color, clarity, cut, and cost. The carat refers to the weight of the diamond, not the diameter. The color is actually the lack of color. The clarity is the amount, location, and contrast of flaws, both internal and external with internal having a greater effect on the value of the diamond. The cut, which is often confused with the shape, actually refers to the proportions and cut specifications. These specs are extremely important in how the diamond returns the brilliance, dispersion and scintillation to the viewer's eyes. Finally, the cost is how much consumers are willing to pay for the diamond given its grading based on the first four C's. To find a diamond that is perfect in every category is incredibly rare.
Now, I'm not writing all of this because I am some kind of diamond expert. The only diamond I own is on my engagement ring and I have no idea what it's grade is. I've never shopped for a diamond and, beyond the basics, would have no idea for what to look. I can't imagine the pressure many man feel when shopping for that perfect engagement ring. They want to find something that they can afford that their fiance is going to love. Of course, most (if not all) women I know wouldn't know the difference between a good diamond and a great diamond just by looking at it with the naked eye. That's because you can't tell much about the appearance of a diamond without the help of some special tools like a microscope, a scale, and some color grading stones. On a couple of occasions I've found myself admiring another woman's engagement ring because the diamond was so much bigger than mine or it seemed to sparkle more. In all actuality mine could have been more valuable (doubtful, but possible) if it had less internal flaws, had more clarity, and was cut properly. But to my naked eye the other diamond just seemed prettier.
Isn't this true in life as well? Don't others seem to somehow have better lives than us? Have you ever looked around and thought, "That person has it all together.", "They have the perfect relationship with their spouse.", "They have the most well-behaved children.", "They have the easiest job.", "They have the nicest house.", or "They are so much more spiritual than I am."? It's an easy trap to fall into. We've all done it. We look around and see a bunch of beautiful diamonds and we feel like a lump of coal beside them. It's funny how to some of those very people, WE look like the beautiful diamond and THEY feel like the lump of coal but we have no idea. We can only see with our naked eye what their lives are like. We see how they sparkle and shine. But remember, the perfect diamond is rare.
Unless they give us the microscope to see inside, we don't see the tint of color, the internal flaws, or even the external blemishes . Even then, we can only see so deep. God is the only one who can see right down to the core of each person and know their true value. Of course, He's the one who gives us our value and really, we all have the same value in His eyes no matter what our C's tell us. We ALL have the same cost: the life of Jesus Christ, His Son. He paid the same price for each and every one of us. Jesus was the only perfect diamond.
So the next time you start to think about how someone else has it better than you, remember that they are just an imperfect diamond like you. If we start allowing others to use our microscopes, they'll probably let us use theirs. When we realize that others have imperfections just like we do, we can stop comparing ourselves and start helping each other instead.
One final note: Did you know that the purpose of some diamonds is to be ground up to polish other diamonds? Food for thought...
