Pearls.

I was reading my email this morning and a particular article has resonated through out the day. The writer was talking about pearls. Pearls are formed when a piece of grit, sand or shell get trapped inside an oyster. It protects itself from irritation by secreting a nacreous liquid around the particle which eventually builds into a pearl. The gist of the article being how something so irritating can turn out so beautiful and drawing the parallels in real life situations. Moments later I was reading another email filled with loss. A note to keep me abreast of a life I once inhabited, one that if I was still a part would've left me and my family devastated. I haven't thought twice about how we left things back in Tucson. Did the decisions we make really need to happen at the speed they did? If we had stayed another 6 months could we have sold our house ourselves? Would my pay have turned around instead of doing a nose dive into the empty pool? I don't think so. It would have and did get worse, it would have been too late. Jumping when we did, making some decisions that will ultimately effect us for years, were meant to happen. Stress on every branch of the family tree but nothing compared to what could've been. The loss of money, the loss of friends, our home, our lifestyle. It did all hurt. It was hard and pride admittedly rears it's head, causing me to not own up to walking away. But when I look at where we are, emotionally, spiritually, I would do it again in a heart beat. Life is good. We're celebrating 11 years of marriage this week. The kids are all completely different beings from where they were, confident, independent, extroverts. Most days I'm not a frantic, anxious, mess. Most days. Beauty does exist in life's irritations. As I tell Ethan, patience young grasshopper, patience.

Isaiah 45:3, I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.