Life is like an onion; you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes it makes you cry. I was learning and growing, overcoming my faults, and working through “pain bodies” as Eckhart Toole taught. It seemed to me that life is like onions. Every time I would recognize a fault that I had developed, change my thinking process, work through it, overcome my weakness and develop a new, better habit, there would be another layer! Every day, with each step that I was taking, my world seemed better! It was an exciting time! Through the years, every time I’d overcome a weakness, I’d feel great, but I’d see there was something, another different bad habit to work on. I was getting closer and closer to God. I had wonderful, loving feelings about myself, and everyone around me, but there was still more layers!
It seemed that the layers were never ending! One day, in exasperation, I asked God if there wasn’t something better in the middle?! I needed to know that there was something that I was made of, that wasn’t just Ick! It wasn’t until I asked God, that I found out. I spent time in meditation and prayer, with thought and focus on my value, and I saw what was in the middle! I saw what was inside of me! And what is inside of everyone!
The answer came to me in a beautiful vision, it was almost like a dream, but I was completely awake. I saw those layers, it was not layers of an onion, they were more like the layers of a green, leafy plant, these leaves are symbolic of our experiences. Experiences that are caused by us, or upon us by others, either way, they were experiences to be learned from. We will have these experiences every day, it is the stuff life is made of.
In the center of all these experiences, these green leaves, was a wonderful jewel! It was, a beautiful, sparkling, translucent and reflective Diamond! The cut of the diamond is beautifully unique, calculated to optimize fire and brilliance. I saw the crystal, clear color of the diamond! During the struggles, (the layers of leaves), dealing with other’s imperfections, and dealing with my own, this diamond is always there, it’s within me, within us. It’s within everyone, no matter how coated with the leaves of experiences we are. As we learn from our experiences, we will be polished and shined. It is our experiences that make us into what we are! No matter if we recognize it or not, we are, now and always, Diamonds in the Rough!
December 12th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Kathy~ You are the first person to leave a comment on my blog! Thank you!! You probably have already gotten a picture connected to your comments, if not check out my post http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/ and I’ll hold your hand through the process! If you use the same email address, it will put your picture right here!
March 5th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Hi Linda, I love the message within your words, it’s absolutely true & so beautifully put. It would serve us all to remember the truth in this. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Toni
.-= Toni King´s last blog ..EFT =-.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Thank you Toni! You’re right! It’s fun getting to know you!!
March 5th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Thank you Linda, & the feeling is definitely mutual. I look forward to us all meeting up some day. Cheers Toni
.-= Toni King´s last blog ..EFT =-.
March 5th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Linda,
It is all in what we focus on, right? The onion portion is there—sanctification is the work of a lifetime; however, the beauty is there also.
You are a diamond, my friend! You touch my life in a very special way each day:)
.-= Darlene Davis´s last blog ..Cirque du Soleil Insights =-.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Thank you Darlene! I feel the same! You touch my life in a special way too! It is amazing how we ‘met by chance’
March 7th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Hi Linda
You have a beautiful outlook on life and when i read your posts it uplifts me to be a better person. We have so much to be grateful for. At times life can be a challenge and its true, sometimes it feels like the onion has no centre! Thanks for the reminder Linda – it is all part of the growth to aspiring to be the person we want to be
Cheers,
Matt
.-= Matt Jones´s last blog ..5 Steps To Realising Your Goal: Part 5 =-.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for saying so Matt!
March 8th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
hi mom good job with your website.
LOL 
March 8th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Hey Lilli! Why don’t you check out http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/ and connect a picture with your comments! Come on, this is your mother speaking! If you’re going to act like an adult leaving comments on peoples blogs then you need to look like an adult with your picture
I love you!! 
April 9th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Yes Linda, great job on being a stay at home mom and making a blog that inspire all these people!
Diamonds are rough and esp the flawless ones!
April 10th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Thank you Sue! I appreciate your saying so! I would love it if you would connect a picture to your comments! Check this out http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/
June 7th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
I enjoyed reading your article. I like the title “Diamonds in the Rough.” A suitable title for describing the complicated and beautiful life that people had. You should write more.
August 31st, 2011 at 7:42 am
Thank you Pierre,
I appreciate you saying so!
Linda
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July 25th, 2011 at 1:47 am
Matt you say that ‘sometimes it feels like the onion has no centre’, a sentiment that I can identify with. I find it so important to maintain the motivation to keep learning, discovering and developing, and think that without this complacency is distinct possibility. Whilst I am not saying that we should never feel satisfied with what we have achieved in our lives so far, I believe that we should view these achievements in the wider context of an ongoing development. There is always more to learn or further ways in which we can develop and this is what we should strive for. Certainly this is more productive that solely looking back at our past successes!
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July 26th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Ian,
I agree~ there is always more to learn and as we do we are happier people! I have to say that I know there is a diamond in the middle of us all! We are perfect people covered with layers of onion! Christians call it ‘The natural man”.
Linda
October 18th, 2011 at 8:37 am
Beautiful and inspiring. This brief experience you shared is something that we can really relate to. I believe all of us have our own faults and flaws; after all, no human is perfect! But like the diamonds that we are, those imperfections can be polished – making us shine with pride of who we are today.
Cheers!
Carrie
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October 19th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Carrie,
I’m glad you see it too! Thank you for sharing!
Linda
November 23rd, 2011 at 8:12 pm
When buying diamonds, it is important that you consider the four C’s. These are cu, clarity, color, and carat.
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December 6th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Your blog is a goldmine of reliable and honest information. Who would’ve thought that there are still some decent writers on the Internet who still value and deliver quality articles.
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January 6th, 2012 at 1:28 am
Beautiful and inspiring ….
I enjoyed reading your article.