The Story of the Pearl

(Story By Marilynn Lomangino)

Do you ever wonder about how a pearl develops?

Some time in the course of the oyster’s development, a foreign substance such as a grain of sand gets into the little muscle and irritates the oyster. In response, the oyster covers that irritant with a secretion. The longer the irritation is there, the more the oyster coats it. Pearl oysters vary in size and can be quite rough and ugly. Yet what is happening inside is a combination of rainbows, moonlight, and bits of flame.

Once the oyster accepts the irritation as part of itself, the pearl begins to develop. The worst storms, gales, even hurricanes will not dislodge it.

As time goes by and this oyster is finally pulled up from the bed where it has been for many years, it is opened only to reveal a beautiful pearl.

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Something comes into our spiritual life; it comes because we have been chosen to do something special. To face this task, we need a lot of prayer, sacrifice, and acts of love—things that are not always easy for our human nature to accomplish. The longer the substance is there, the more it can irritate, just like how sometimes we are asked to do things that we really don’t want to do. But we offer that sacrifice up so that finally, when we get to the end of our life, we will be able to open up our little spiritual oyster and reveal our special pearl. The longer we stay committed and the more we do, the more beautiful will be the pearl that we get to make.

There is a reason for everything…. We may not know it yet, but in due time, the gift/blessing will be ours to reap.

I salute you for being a committed and hardworking mommy of a child with special needs.