I seriously could write a book on my life from just this last week alone. I started writing about everything the other day, and I have 4 pages already going. Add in the other crazy details of the last 23 years and I think I’d have myself a nice little novel to be published. Maybe someday I’ll write a book about my life. I feel a bit narcissistic, however, claiming that I have this ‘ultra crazy life’ that is ‘book worthy’. Whenever that may be - I would most likely theme it. I mean - I’d have to!
Pearl and The Big Bad Oyster? (Not your typical children’s story) …
Did you know that the best oysters are found in the muddiest of places? Those are the ones with the most beautiful pearls as well.
Pearls are generally white, and white is usually associated with cleanliness, or brightness. Brides wear white in their weddings, and brides can be a representation of purity. I think of white as snow; pure, complete, whole. White.
Oysters on the other hand are big, and gross looking, yet they produce the most beautiful thing inside. White, lovely, bright pearls. A purity at its finest.
How can this large, big bad oyster produce its best pearls in such muddy, gross conditions?
A natural pearl begins its life inside an oyster’s shell when an intruder, such as a grain of sand slips in between one of the two shells of the oyster, a type of mollusk, and the protective layer that covers the mollusk’s organs, called the mantle.
In order to protect itself from irritation, the oyster will quickly begin covering the uninvited visitor with layers of nacre—the mineral substance that fashions the mollusk’s shells. Layer upon layer of nacre coat the grain of sand until the iridescent gem is formed.
(Source: http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/197-how-do-oysters-make-pearls.html)
Tonight I’m thinking of my life as being this small pearl in the midst of this ‘big bad oyster’. Circumstances or ‘intruders’, like the article above says, have come in - their intentions for evil - and have been overstimulated by the amazing oyster’s defense mechanisms! Thus creating this beautiful pearl. A form of purity, and completion. A clean appearance, and transformation.
About 5 years ago I was at a church in Seattle with a good friend of mine at the time. I was prayed over by this group of girls and they spoke over me some truth about what God thinks of me. In this situation, it was called prophesy, and without knowing anything about my life, or about the 5 years I would face upon leaving that church in Seattle, I was prophesied over that I was like a pearl - “pure as a pearl in trusting the Lord”. Like a clam opened up in the midst of grime, and dirt - the pearl remains clean, and whole. Not stained…
I don’t always see myself as this ‘Pearl’. I wonder if you don’t always see yourself as a pearl, either? Sometimes I see myself as an awful colored stone, rather than a fine piece of creation. However… The Lord sees us as a delight, and lovely, and beautiful - His work of art. His creation. He calls us good… Even when and if we don’t feel so ‘good’.
Why bad things happen to good people, I’m not an expert on that… What I do know is that trusting the Lord to turn you into a remarkable, one of a kind pearl inside that messy, gross oyster will make all the difference in the world when you see yourself as this clean, whole, pure individual.
blessings, and love to you my friends :)
Samantha
