It’s been one of those weeks again. Early last Sunday morning the expected came unexpectedly when the nursing center, where my mother-in-law is in residence, called with the news of her passing in the early morning hours. The death of a loved one is never easy to accept be it accidental or knowing in the heart that age and disease has a choke hold on life. Congestive heart failure and loneliness, mixed with a little depression following the death of her spouse, spurred my wife to move her mother closer to see that she was properly cared for during whatever time was left. Well, nine years were added to her life where upon she got to know and love her great-grandchildren. “Granny Crane” was a grand lady. The kids thought she was “cool”. She had a story with a lesson of moral goodness for every situation and wasn’t ashamed to let anyone know that Jesus was her guide and confidante. She had her own funeral all planned out, bought and paid for. She recorded her wishes with shaky pen in hand on two small pieces of paper. On the back of one is a child-like drawing of an angel with wings looking heavenward rising above the trees and houses, sporting a big grin on her face. She was ready to go home. She had assignments for several of the family to participate during her going home celebration and we honored her requests, with love. Never did you leave her presence without hearing, “I Love You!” except for that day, but our memories rang it out loud.
Most of us can afford to take a lesson from the Oyster. The most extraordinary thing is this. Irritations tend to get into his shell. He doesn’t like them and he tries to get rid of them. But when he cannot get rid of them he settles down to make one of the most beautiful things in the world. He uses the irritation to do the loveliest thing that an oyster ever has the chance to do. He makes a pearl. If there are irritations in your life today, there’s only one prescription – make a pearl. It may have to be a pearl of patience, but anyhow, make a pearl. It takes faith and love to do it.
[Philippians 2: 12-18] Grandma asked that I read that little story at her funeral and that I wasn’t restricted to doing just that. Among other instructions, she insisted no one glorify her but to speak of the one who saved her from the wickedness of the world, preach Jesus. As an amateur preacher of sorts I couldn’t resist, so I preached Jesus. On the wall behind and above the casket hung a painting of Jesus praying in the garden. He was about to take on all the irritants of the world – the sins of mankind. He was praying because He was afraid to die, even asking His Father if there were another way He would do it. But in obedience Jesus said, “…not mine, but your will be done.” Jesus showed us the way to paradise and grandma prepared herself in His way. She worked out her own salvation with fear and trembling and did all she could to teach others Jesus. She took the irritations of life, wrapped them tightly in faith making pearls of them which she wore proudly. The body that lay in the casket was but the shell of the lady we loved and though we couldn’t see it, that shell had been opened and God had harvested the pearl of a spirit. Are you working out your own salvation through Jesus who has shown you the way? How are you handling the irritations of the world? With complaining and arguing or are you a shining star holding out the Word of life? Are you ready to take on death, as we all must do some day? Are you ready for the harvest day?
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