Today I saw a pearl in a oyster shell. Pearls are created by the oyster when an irritant, like a bit of sand, enters its shell. Over the course of about 6 months to 4 years, it slowly covers the irritant with a thin layer of nacre which creates a beautiful pearl. What a good reminder that something beautiful can be created out of irritants although it invariably requires patience. Also, Jesus tells us that "the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went out and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46). If we seek God's Kingdom we will find it and it is worth relinquishing our hold on other possessions. Earlier on in Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus assures that if we seek we will find.
