Valuable
Pearls
By Karen D’Amore
“…And we rejoice in
the hope of the glory of God. Not only so but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance
character, and character hope.”
Romans
5: 2b-4 (NIV)
They
say that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” but I prefer pearls! Unlike
diamonds which are mined from the earth, pearls are miraculously produced by
live oysters in the deep seas. In contrast to diamonds, whose beauty is
developed by man-made cuts and polishing, the pearl’s beauty cannot be
manufactured by man.
“A
natural pearl begins its life as a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece
of shell that accidentally lodges itself in an oyster’s soft inner body where
it cannot be expelled. To ease this irritant, the oyster’s body takes defensive
action. The oyster begins to secrete a smooth, hard crystalline substance
around the irritant in order to protect itself. This substance is called
‘nacre.’ As long as the irritant remains within its body, the oyster will
continue to secrete layers of nacre around it. Over time, the irritant will be
completely encased by the silky crystalline coatings, producing the lovely,
lustrous gem called a pearl.” [1]
I’m
encouraged by the process of an irritant
transforming into a valuable gem. Life is filled with irritants. As Christ-followers,
we’re not immune from irritating circumstances or relationships that “get under
our skin!” There are times where I’ve wrestled with relationships that God has
clearly allowed to remain in my inner-circle. Though irritating and sometimes
unjust, I’ve worked to be tolerantly kind, but more than once, I’ve pleaded
with and questioned God in the midst of it.
One
pivotal morning, at the peak of my frustration…my favorite strand of pearls
broke and scattered across the bedroom floor. As I frantically scooped the loose
pearls into my hands, I was reminded of the pearl-creating process. In that
moment, God impressed upon me that He wasn’t changing my irritating
circumstances because He wanted to use the irritant to change me. God wanted to
grow me and shape my godly character. My choice became: continue struggling
with the irritant which inflamed me…or embrace it!
Embracing
irritants and covering them with grace and love orchestrates opportunities for transformation
into lustrous, valuable pearls! With “luster” being the beauty of light
reflected from the pearl’s surface, it’s the pearl’s ability to reflect light that
determines its value.
Got
irritations? Cover them in prayer - - wrap them in love - - transform them into
Light-reflecting, valuable pearls!
GOING DEEPER:
1.
Identify your irritation(s).
2.
Can you - - with the Lord’s help and guidance - - turn them into a lustrous strand of pearls?
FURTHER READING:
Married
to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at
Craig Berns Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s
on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team.
