Pearls

A pearl is formed when sand, or some other contaminant, penetrates an oysters shell and causes injury or irritation. The oyster's natural defense mechanism is to wrap up this trauma with nacre (aka mother of pearl) until it no longer poses a threat. As time goes by, the layers of nacre harden and pearls are born. They have at times throughout history been the most expensive gemstones in the world. 

I'm no gemologist, but I had an epiphany and thought it was interesting enough to share. 

Somewhere along the line of evolution, mollusks developed the gene to produce nacre. Their bodies learned to detect threats and wrap them up tight with the mother of pearl substance to keep them safe. What happened before they developed that ability? Any little irritant would likely have caused infection, cancer. death.

For us humans, trauma can easily penetrate our vulnerable shells. In some cases, a small and seemingly insignificant slight can cause a catastrophic trauma to it's receiver. Then in the cases of major trauma like loss~ Some of us may not even make it through those.

We are so fragile. 

A few days after losing Eli, I realized that my life was going to go one of two ways; I knew that I had to fight the sadness because I have so many to live for. But the other side of me felt I could easily follow this pain all the way down. I realized that I had the choice. . . We are either going to let our pain fester and even use it as an excuse to self destruct completely. Or we are going to wrap it up tight like an oyster and create a beautiful pearl. I realized that the most beautiful and expensive jewels in the world, are scars. 

To live on, to push harder toward our dreams after trauma and loss is how we form our own pearls. Our scars can create beauty in the world. We don't have to allow contaminants to kill us ~ We have the choice. 

Suddenly I felt this wave of peace come over me, and the pain subsided for a minute. I felt a hug of hope and realized that I was creating a pearl in my own mind. All of the sadness of loss was replaced by vivid memories of the love and good times with my brother, with my family that left this earth before him. .. 

If we look at our circumstances the right way, maybe we can find our most beautiful lives on the other side of trauma. And we can help others do the same. 

💜 For all those suffering not knowing which path to choose ~ I wish you pearls. 💜