Granny's Pearls
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>
Maybelle was her name, but everyone affectionately called
her "Granny".
Granny was a bit eccentric but well loved by our community
as well as family. A spry old woman, she was always on the
go, never slowing down. Even as children, we had trouble
keeping up with Granny.
Granny loved pearls. The odd thing was, that as much as she
loved them, no one was allowed to buy them for her. She would
often buy herself pearls, only for them to disappear. We never
understood this. How a person could lose something as valuable
as pearls and not seem to worry or care that they lost them,
was beyond our small minds and comprehension.
On Granny's bedroom dresser was another reminder of how
peculiar she was. It was a small golden handcrafted box.
Cherubs were delicately carved in the fine gold. Instead
of using this beautiful and valuable box for the safe keeping
of her pearls, nestled in the soft purple lining were a thorn
and a mustard seed. Often, she would loving and tearfully look
at the contents or delicately touch the box. How we laughed at
Granny. She was such a foolish old woman to keep such nonsense
and worthless items in this priceless box all the while unable
to keep track of the real valuables.
Granny was in her seventies when she was diagnosed with cancer.
How angry I was at her God for allowing such a disease to attack
and ravish her body. How angry I was at her for the calmness and
acceptance she had of her inevitable death. I watched as my
lively grandmother became bedridden. I was sixteen the year she
died. I cried for myself, for I knew that life would never be the
same without her. And I was angry at her for leaving. I was angry
at God for allowing her to suffer so much before He took her away.
The whole town turned out for Granny's funeral. Again, I was
angered. Instead of tears and mourning, I saw smiles, laughter
and celebration. It seemed as if they were having a grand party
instead of a funeral. Then, one by one people started coming up
to the platform to speak, each carrying two small boxes with them.
The first to speak was the woman who ran the shelter for abused
women. As she spoke, chills began to creep up my spine. "I was
married for years to a man who both mentally and physically
abused me. Even though I lived in terror with him, the though
of leaving also frightened me. I had two small children and
nowhere to go. It was Granny who came to my rescue. At first,
she placed in my hand this box with a thorn and mustard seed
inside. You can imagine my surprise when I saw what she had
given me. But, I listened to her as told me the reason. Granny
explained that everyone has thorns in their lives they must be
pricked by, but that with the faith of a mustard seed, any
obstacle could be overcome and turned around for good, for
themselves and others. It was Granny who gave me the courage
to leave my abusive husband. She helped me find a place for me
and my children. When I approached her about starting a shelter
for other women so they would also have a place to turn to, she
smiled and handed me this pearl. Although I have always treasured
the pearl, my most precious treasures have been this box with the
thorn and mustard seed. Many times when I have faced difficulties,
I have looked at them and heard her words."
Next in line was the man who ran the alcohol and drug center. He
cleared his throat as he began to speak. "I met Granny under the
worst possible circumstances that I could have met anyone. I was
an alcoholic at the young age of eighteen when I was involved in
a car accident that killed a young sixteen-year-old boy. You can
imagine my motions when his mother came up to the jail to visit
me. I was prepared for the worst; anger and accusations. What I
was not prepared for was the love and forgiveness I received.
She told me she knew that her son was with God and that she would
someday be reunited with him. She also gave me this box with the
thorn and mustard seed with the same explanation that you all well
know. When I went to court, they wanted to put me in prison for
manslaughter. Granny convinced them that I needed help and not
punishment. She even offered to pay for the treatment. The
treatment center was the cure that I needed. Granny helped me
to get the grants to go to college. After I graduated, I saved
every penny I could and a few years later took the money to
Granny to repay her, but, she refused the money. So, I used the
money to get our local treatment center started. On the first
day I opened the center, Granny also gave me this box with the
pearl. Do I need to tell you which is the most priceless to me?"
Our local beautician spoke next. "I was fifteen, unmarried and
pregnant when I met Granny. I was a frightened child about to
have a child. I had already scheduled to have an abortion. I
felt this was the only option that I had. Granny talked me out
of having the abortion and to adopt my child out instead. She
said I carried a gift from God that would be a gift to a
childless couple. And yes, like many of you, I received the
box with the thorn and mustard seed. Granny was with me when
I gave birth to my son and when I gave him to his new family.
She helped put me through school so I could become a beautician.
She also gave me my box with the pearl. But the story does not
end there. The family who adopted my son was a loving and
Christian family, and my son grew up to be a fine doctor. He
has saved many lives in his years, including many of yours."
Story after story was told about Granny and her gifts of thorns,
mustard seeds and pearls. How ashamed I was as I thought about
the countless of times I laughed over Granny losing her precious
pearls but keeping the golden box. How livid I was with God for
taking such a loving woman from us.
Finally, our minister began to speak. "My parents were atheists
and raised me the same way. Granny was my neighbor for many
years. I often scoffed at her and her "God", yet, at the same
time was amazed by and envied her faith, her serenity and the
peace that she had. Many times I would visit Granny when I was
troubled, just to get a taste of her peace. It took Granny a lot
longer to convert me then most, but, she was patient. She kept
praying for me and always had her door open. One day I was
facing what I thought was a major life crisis and went to talk
to Granny. That was the day she gave me my box with the thorn
and mustard seed. It was also the day I accepted Christ as my
Saviour. When I opened my first church, Granny then gave me my
box with the pearl."
Then slowly, he opened an envelope and took out the folded paper
inside. "Granny asked me to read this at her funeral. It was
sealed when she gave it to me, and she made me promise not to
open it until today." Slowly, he began to read:
"Dear Family, and I say family, for we are all family in the
eyes of God. Many of you have been receptionists of my boxes.
Although everyone understands the meaning behind the thorns
and mustard seed, today, I will explain the meaning behind your
pearls. As most of you know, a pearl is a gemstone that is made
by different mollusks such as oysters. But let's see how they
are made. The making of a pearl is not very pretty and is
painful to the mollusk. The start of a pearl is a piece of
sand, rock, body of a bug or parasite that gets trapped inside
the shell. Inside the mollusk is an inner layer of shell that
is made of a lustrous material called "nacre," or mother of
pearl. When something gets stuck in its shell, it irritates
the oyster, so in defense, the oyster isolates the irritation
by gradually coating it with layer after layer of nacre, making
the object less dangerous and irritating to its soft tissues.
As the oyster keeps adding more layers of this material, the
pearl grows bigger and becomes more rounded. It is a slow
process that can take up to three or more years for a mature
oyster to produce a pearl large enough to become valuable.
"In your lives, you have all had these painful irritants,
which you have had to coat. You have had to take something
painful and create a beautiful, priceless pearl. I know many
of you have wondered why I have had to endure cancer and die
the death I did. Even though I may not have an answer to that,
I do know this, Yesus was with me through each painful step
of my disease comforting me with His Holy Spirit. Do not cry
for me, but, celebrate what has been given to me. Even though
I had to endure this painful experience, today I get to collect
my gemstone, I get the biggest pearl of my life - I go home to
Our Father.
Love Granny"
Today, Granny's golden box, with its thorn and mustard seed,
sits atop my dresser.
'T'was the night before Christmas
and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus
was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy
with Christmas time chores
Like decorating, and baking,
and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa
dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart,
Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour upon hour
the presents they'd wrap
When what from the T.V.
did they suddenly hear?
'Cept an ad.. which told
of a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall
they all flew like a flash...
Buying things on credit...
and others with cash!
And, as they made their way home
From their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus?
Oh, no... not at all.
Their lives were so busy
with their Christmas time things
No time to remember
Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap
and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember
who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior...
they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time
to "Shop til they dropped!"
On Wal-mart! On K-mart!
On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales!
A quick lunch at Denny's
From the big stores downtown
to the stores at the mall
They would dash away, dash away,
and visit them all!
And up on the roof,
there arose such a clatter
As grandpa hung icicle lights
up on his brand new step ladder
He hung lights that would flash.
He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus...
Light of the World.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle!
Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous!
All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy,
overworked, and uptight
Let's put Christ back in Christmas
and enjoy some good nights!
Merry Christmas, my friends!
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