Did you know that an Australian South Sea Pearl Oyster has produced a pearl worth 1.5 million dollars? I guess they’re one of the most valuable gems know to mankind. What’s amazing is how and where they are formed.
A grain of sand or small organism gets into the shell and becomes an irritation or threat to the pearl. So the oyster begins to secrete nacre, the same substance the shell is made of. This eventually surrounds the unwanted guest. The nacre continues to build every year until this gorgeous pearl is formed. Scientists have tried and failed to create any kind of accurate replica of nacre. It’s made of millions of tiny crystals that fit together perfectly in a sphere and reflect light absolutely beautifully.
This precious gem is birthed from irritation. From something unwanted. From a threat. It grows in a dark and unpleasant environment. Even if you eat oysters and love them, you gotta admit they’re not pretty.
Maybe your environment growing up wasn’t pretty. Maybe it was dark. Maybe you were unwanted, treated like an irritation. Maybe there’s a situation you’re facing right now that’s an irritation- even a threat to all you love. What if you’re this precious pearl. What if this horrible situation you’re facing is becoming a pearl. A treasure in your life- a time that you learned and grew into the person you always wanted to become. A time to break off hurtful patterns and change directions in life- where your life becomes beautiful.
What I love is that you never have to accept the irritation as good. Or love it. I get so mad when people say, “You should be happy about this, I’m sure God will use it in your life.” That hurts and doesn’t allow you to just be mad and cry and be whatever you are in that moment. It kinda says, “You should be happy, not a hot mess, because that makes me uncomfortable.” There are no “shoulds”. When you have a threat or irritation or unwanted experience, you need to react however you react. You may scream, cry, hate everyone, get depressed for a little while, ask for help, feel all the feelings, whatever you need to do. There is a time for anger and weeping and just falling apart. Don’t be ashamed of that part. That’s where you’re building the pearl. And when you’re done, in your time, you’ll have this precious gem. Or you’ll realize, like I did, that you’ve always been the precious pearl.
You never have to love pain, but you can love the way this beauty came out of it in the end. That never would have without it. Maybe beautiful children from a marriage that was damaging. Maybe a new, more fulfilling direction in life after losing a job. Maybe a new perspective after cancer or life threatening issue. Maybe a deeper understanding of how precious life is, after a death of loved one. Maybe you love yourself after years of believing you were unwanted. Maybe a self-healing journey after a devastating failure. Maybe you help others in their pain, because you know how it feels. Maybe you’re here to be a cheerleader, to inspire, to teach, to train, to be a loving parent. Maybe you carry more than one pearl with you from your past.
Maybe you are more valuable than you ever imagined. And no other human could ever come close to duplicating anything about you. Maybe it’s not a question. It’s true. You are more valuable than you ever imagined. More valuable than any pearl ever created. You got this.
Please comment if there are areas in your life that are becoming or have already become pearls. Or if you feel like the pearl, growing up unwanted and now learning to love yourself. I’d love to hear from you! I’d love to keep in touch as well. Click here to join the mailing list for more articles, tips, and resources.