The Most Undervalued Thing On Earth

A man purchased a costume jewelry ring (an imitation diamond ring) for $13 back in the 1980s, only to find out it wasn’t what he thought it was.

Three months earlier, the unnamed owner had the ring appraised at Sotheby’s Fine Jewels in the UK. After a close examination, Sotheby’s made several determinations about the ring. First, it was not costume jewelry, but a real diamond. Second, it was very old; it dated from the 1800s, probably once owned by royalty. Third, the diamond had a total weight of 26 carats and was probably worth over $400,000. When Sotheby’s auctioned it off for the owner, an organization purchased the ring for $850,000. Not only was this a stunning return for a $13 investment. It is also an example of how grossly wrong people can be in their estimation of something’s value.

Underestimated Value

Our world frequently underestimates the value of many things—revolutionary ideas, burgeoning businesses, new technologies. But its worst underestimation comes when it dismisses the value of people. This is especially true in our culture’s estimation of family relationships and the roles of a father and mother. People who have grown up without a supportive father and loving mother are among the most pain-ridden creatures on the planet.

In fact, our culture has waged war on family roles and values. It has sent a steady message to mothers and fathers that their children aren’t worth their investment of love, time, and energy. Culture presents career, educational goals, and accumulating material wealth as the real signs of success. We hear that nothing—not even one’s spouse or children—should get in the way of these pursuits. Consequently, we now have several generations of human beings who have gone un-nurtured, un-affirmed, un-validated, and unloved by the parents who set them aside for “more important things.”

Just look at the movies we make today, the TV sitcoms, and the entire basis of our entertainment. It’s all marked by cruel humor that makes peoples’ pain and misfortune the butt of jokes, and that fosters finding pleasure in shedding blood and mutilating human bodies. More and more, it seems we are losing the capacity to be kind, tender, and respectful of each other. More and more, we are overwhelmed by our inner pain and cannot control the anger that keeps erupting from within.

Finding Healing

But to help humanity with its pain, we need to, first, find healing for ourselves. And that healing can only be found in the warm and loving embrace of our Heavenly Father—our divine Parent who created us in His own likeness. He made us according to His own specifications.

No matter what others think of you and no matter how badly they underestimate you, your Heavenly Father loves you supremely, and His opinion is the only one that matters. Let Him love you. Flee into His loving arms—the only place of true peace, healing, and love.

“The LORD appeared to us from afar, saying, ‘Behold, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness’” (Jer. 31:3).

PRAYER:

Dear Father in heaven, I flee into Your loving embrace. Accept me, O Lord, through You Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Wash me in His blood, cleanse me from every sin. Heal my wounded heart and fill me with Your love. Make me an instrument of Your peace in the lives of others I pray. Amen.