When I was a little girl, I found a treasure.
My mother’s strand of fake pearls had broken and she had swept them up.
All except one.
My chubby little toddler fingers found the precious item and did what any self-respecting toddler would do, I shoved it up my nose. However, being a toddler with very good manners, I decided I wouldn’t pick it out. I found a tissue and blew it out.
I still remember the thrill of feeling that pearl come flying out of my nose for the first time.
It must have added excitement to my mundane toddler life, because I repeated this over and over and over.
Shove up, blow out.
Shove up, blow out.
Shove up, blow out.
Shove up….blow….blow…blow….blow…
I don’t remember breaking the news to my mom that I’d found her missing pearl and was storing it in a very special place.
I do remember sitting in a sterile and barren office with a big man in a baggy white coat who spoke in a soft voice. He had an aura of kindness and gentleness. As the story goes, the little pearl was positioned so perfectly, he was simply poked a small wire up my nose, hooked it into the hole, and pulled out the pearl.
He made me feel very special because he told my mom, “She can breathe out of her mouth and her nose.” For years, I thought I was very talented, until I learned that everybody can breathe out of their nose and mouth. He was only indicating the success of his pearl retrieval, not the uniqueness of my giftedness.
I always wondered why my Mom didn’t save that little pearl in a little jewelry box, or hang it from a gold chain, because that little pearl ended up costing my Mom a lot more to retrieve than it was worth. It gained in value because of the cost.
When I was an 18 year old college student, I was the treasure that was found.
Matthew 13: 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
The Lord Jesus was the seeking merchant.
Luke 19:10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
I was lost and he sought to find me. When I trusted Him as my Savior I became a part of his blood-bought church.The pearl is the church, those that have been saved through faith in Him.
The great price is the precious blood of Jesus.
“Just as a pearl is formed inside an oyster through suffering caused by irritation, so the church was formed through the piercing and wounding of the body of the Savior.” (William MacDonald, Believers Bible Commentary, p. 75)
He paid a great price for my redemption. I gained value because of this cost.
How then shall I live?
I Corinthians 6:20: For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Just thought I’d tell you that I am featuring you over at WholeHearted Home today 🙂
Thanks for linking up over at WholeHearted Home last Wednesday 🙂
You are SO welcome! I love seeing how much your blogging has grown since I started following you about a year ago?! You inspire me to keep learning and growing.
That is a wonderful story to tell – well, wonderful for us to read. I love the way you tied it in to the Pearl of Great Price Thanks for sharing.
Donna, thank you for visiting today together and for your kind words of encouragement. May the Lord bless you!
Love your analogy. I’ll never forget getting the back of an earring stuck in my ear and having to go to the doctor to get it out. Not fun, but could have been worse. I’m surprised my kids haven’t ever done something like that yet. Hope they are smarter than me in that area!
I had four major scars before I was three. (Needed stitches) I guess with two older brothers, I shouldn’t be surprised. After 25 years of parenting six kids, I only had to make three trips to the emergency room. Maybe it skips a generation??????
What a great story!! You had me smiling and laughing. My oldest son stuck a elbow noodle up his nose. Another son stuck something up his nose (forget what). The doctor said to blow pepper up his nose so he would sneeze. I loved the spiritual connection to the pearl of great price/church.
BTW….I just LOVE that typewriter (that is what it is called, right?! 😉
Isn’t it funny that something we used as teens is already in museums? I learned to type on a non-electric typewriter because the class was too big and there weren’t enough IBM Selectrics for the whole class until a few of the guys dropped out.
My husband’s first job out of college was as a Business teacher, or typing teacher, but his job was absolete within five years.
My son was mocking me for texting so slow the other day. Apparently being able to type 100wpm is no longer a valued skill….
Every family has a nose story! My brother’s was a peanut!
As always, great wisdom to share as wrll. Many blessings to you and your family in 2013. XX
Thanks for stopping by Ruby. We’re trusting 2013 won’t be as trying as 2012, but if it is, we’re counting on His continued grace and mercy to uphold us. Blessings to your precious family, as well.
I love this!! It is a great little story that illustrates the pearl of great price. Very cute, well written and a wonderful little post. Thanks!
Thank you for dropping by to encourage me this morning. I always welcome guests and comments. Blessings on your ministry.