{why a pearl?}

...well, let me tell you!

A mollusk is a living creature. At first glance, it doesn't look very impressive, but looks can be deceiving!

{Oysters, clams, and mussels are mollusks that can produce pearls but the majority are produced by oysters}.

In a nutshell, these creatures are alive! They have a heart, intestines, a nervous system, the whole sha-bang! (well, kind of!) The inside of the oyster has a tender lining called the mantle. Sometimes, particles such as sand slip inside and irritate the delicate mantle. As a protective response to the"pain" of the irritant, the oyster secretes nacre, a chemical that builds up over time, eventually producing the beautiful pearl. The longer the pearl "suffers" the bigger, more beautiful, and valuable the pearl.

James 1:2-3 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

In a similar way, we can have confidence in knowing that there is a purpose for our pain.  Like the oyster, our trials will produce something beautiful if we can learn to patiently trust God.  After all, only He can create such beauty from pain.