I've been studying Proverbs. When I see how Solomon describes going after things that are precious, I can understand why people wait to get married.

I also understand why when people finally find what they want, they move quickly. They have no shame and ignore protocol. They are not willing to let something rare and precious pass by.

Sometimes when people reel out a list of things they MUST have in a relationship, I ask one question. "What is the one thing that if you found, you would gladly sacrifice all other things for?"

Sometimes, until you find that item that's your "jewel of inestimable value", it's difficult to focus. You will keep chasing too many things that oftentimes can't really be combined in a single human.

For instance, a woman wants peace but can't be with man who gives her peace, because he doesn't earn a certain amount. Peace is not really that woman's jewel then.

Or, she wants great companionship and sex. She finds a man who gives both but is sterile. She passes. Companionship wasn't her jewel.

Your jewel is the one thing you would willingly sacrifice other things for. What is your jewel?

From the responses to the thread, it is clear that a jewel can be expressed in many ways and that sometimes identifying "one important thing", may actually be one thing you cannot live with, not necessarily one thing you cannot live without.

For instance, my one thing is "Friendship". But encapsulated in friendship are several expressions - love for quality time, conversational ability, wit/humour, love for travel... So, I agree with the responses. One thing is often not just one thing.