A few weeks ago, my youngest daughter called to ask me if I had the pearl necklace her grandmother had left her when she died.  Although I don’t know that she had, or will have thoughts of wearing them, their sentimental value was of great importance to her.   It seems the timelessness of a set of pearls brings a lot of enjoyment and carries a legacy of love for many of us.

Talking with my daughter that day reminded me of one of the most thought provoking seminars I’ve ever attended.  My husband was attending a local business conference as a vendor.   He had read the biography and seminar introduction of an afternoon keynote speaker and invited me to attend.  My husband knew that I had been in a difficult and challenging place then, as I had been notified a few days prior, that my position at work was going to be eliminated.   This was back in the early 1990s and it truly rocked my world.   I had a position that I cherished and had worked extremely hard to obtain.   The organization I worked for was consolidating leadership positions across it’s five locations and both my CEO and myself were being transferred to the Corporate office.   I was blessed to be given another position, but it was very different than what I was comfortable with.    It was way out of my league.

I walked into the seminar that afternoon as a very sad and confused person.   The very typical, “Why me God?” question prevailed in my head.  I took a seat in the back of the room (in hopes of being transparent) and just hoped the speaker’s message would distract my sadness.    Just then, a full-of-life, energetic and ‘way too happy for my mood’ lady bounded on stage and from her first words, I was captivated.    She shared a long list of life experiences that I could easily and quickly relate to.  Her message was uplifting and one of general motivation – a “you can do it” type invitation.   I’ll never forget her sharing several of her experiences with men (which were less than positive).   She said she decided years ago to send herself a boquet of flowers every Monday morning to her office and never told anyone she bought them herself!   Her point was why not?  She claimed, “I love flowers and I can afford to send them to myself – I don’t need to wait for anyone else to do it for me”.   She went on to say that her struggles with dating had led her to telling her friends and family that when she died, her wishes for her funeral included two important things:   One, no one was to buy her flowers (since she had taken care of that herself).  They were all to send someone they loved (who was still alive) the flowers and then at her funeral, write the person’s name on a sticky note and place it on her casket.  (That’s leaves quite the visual picture, doesn’t it?)   In addition, she stated that no men were allowed to carry her casket that day.   The reason for that?….  (wait for it…)    No men could carry her “out” as none of them had bothered to take her out when she was alive!

Toward the end of her presentation, her serious side came out.   She wanted to leave us with a powerful take-away.   In the most caring, and compelling way, she shared her love of pearls and why they were important to her.   She briefly reminded everyone how a pearl is formed.   The highlights being:

• It’s a natural process, that takes time, but when complete, it is stunning.
• The oyster (or mussel) shell is responsible for keeping the oyster safe and alive.
• The only way an oyster is formed is because of an irritant (sand or another irritant).
• When any irritant makes its way into the shell, the oyster creates a protective coating that helps reduce the irritation (referred to as nacre or mother-of-pearl).
• The protective layer coats the irritant, eventually creating the pearl.
• Interestingly, some pearls can develop in about six months, but larger pearls can take up to four years to develop.

This same lady, who had me laughing until I hurt a few minutes earlier, had me on the edge of my seat.   Was there a chance, even a slight chance, that some good would come out of what I had been going through?   She was eloquent in relating her own biggest challenges which had created the “pearls” in life.   She insured we heard and fully understood, that no pearl would ever be created without some type of irritant being introduced into it’s safe haven.

At this point in the afternoon, she was only talking to me.  I no longer noticed the hundreds of other people sitting around me, or did I care that I had allowed the tears that had welled up in my eyes to run down my face.   I didn’t know what my “pearl” would be, but her confidence was transferred to me with such certainty, I walked out of that room truly believing it would be revealed to me.   I only needed to pray for the patience for that revelation to be disclosed.

My new department at work and responsibilities were challenging, but I did learn a lot.   I persevered, but ended up leaving that organization several years later.   But allow me to fast-forward several years later when I had been at another organization for about 18 months.   My new boss approached me and said he had reviewed my resume and learned of the specific experience I had in my last years at the previous organization.    Because of that experience he asked me to join him in creating a new department for the organization.   The position was not only a promotion, but one that would lead to me finding an aspect of my career field that I grew to love deeply and believe was part of my errand in life.     My pearl was ready.     The pearl that would not have been created without the irritant I couldn’t accept in the beginning, or couldn’t understand until later – until it was ready.

The keynote speaker gave everyone in the audience that day, a silver necklace that was half of an oyster shell with a pearl in the center of it.  I put that necklace on and didn’t take it off for months.  It was my constant reminder that God is with me every step of this journey and that I need to trust him, always.

When you don’t move the mountains
I’m needing you to move
When you don’t part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When you don’t give the answers
As I cry out to you
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in you

The above lyrics are from one of my favorite contemporary songs of today…  “I Will Trust in You”, by Lauren Daigle.    I’ve included the You Tube link to the song below.   Listen closely to the words…  no matter what your irritant, or pain is today, rest in the peace this Lenten season brings.   We have a God who understands that pain.   He sacrificed his only Son, Jesus Christ.   It is Jesus, who experienced unprecedented pain and suffering… so run to Him.    His peace will surpass it all.

Here’s the link to Lauren Daigle’s song:

https://youtu.be/n_aVFVveJNs

That same thoughtful husband, bought me a gorgeous pearl necklace and earring set for a birthday one year.   I cherish them, not only for their beauty, but for what they symbolize.   I don’t wear them enough.   Now that I’m reminded of what they mean (for all of us), I am going to wear them more.

If you don’t have any pearls, treat yourself!   There are all kinds of very nice options to select from, at all prices.  Find one that speaks to you and wear it!