The Onion

Dear Daughter,

Here is an illustration that describes my view of beauty, value and worth of a female.  I see us as made like onions.  Like onions, we are multi-layered and each layer touches another and influences those that it touches. There is the outside layer that everyone sees and reacts to; the visual that attracts or turns away the people we interact with.   The media spotlights this component – and assigns initial worth from this layer.  If tall and thin is the flavor of the day and you happen to be that, then you’re good.

But remember the onion theory? This is just the superficial outside layer. Peel it back and there are startling discoveries to be made.

Right underneath that is what I’d call the “public” layer.  This is displayed every time we speak, reacts or respond to our world.  It can be outgoing or shy, independent, aggressive or quiet and subdued.  People who don’t really know you generally make determinations about who they think you are from these two layers.

But underneath are more layers that are harder to interpret — like your culture, your history and experiences, your gifts, your talents, your motives, your soul. At the deepest core lies your spirit.  Now, like the onion, if the outer layers are bruised or damaged they can be peeled away because the remainder is still good for use.  But if you’ve ever cut into an onion whose center is brown or gray, mushy and rancid, the value of the entire onion is diminished, and is typically not good for nourishment. Left alone that corrupt core will eventually destroy even the most perfect looking onion from within. It’s just a matter of time.

Baby — God wants to dig deep and solidify your core and thus give life and distinct flavor to every subsequent layer. And if your core is corrupt, He gently scoops out the foul and mushy mass and replaces it with His light and life.  The substitution changes your flavor and gives you purpose and usefulness. So while we need to take care of the outer layers, the health of our CORE determines our fate and destiny.

Hold on to this: True beauty, value and worth arise from the core.

Always Here for You,

Mama  G.

Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible… which is in the sight of God of great price.    I Peter3:3-4 (KJV)