Beauty and Adversity
“Oyster, Mr. Oyster, strange creature of the sea, what have you to teach me? What is your lesson, please?”
“Come hither, my child, to the oyster come. Sit by me and I will tell you the story of beauty and adversity. Sand from out of life, it was just a little thing as testings often can be. I cried, ‘Oh God, why me?’ It irritated me so, this rock of offense to me. I pleaded; I begged my God from testing to be free. In a still, small voice, His quiet reply came, ‘My grace is sufficient for the patient, my child.’ He said, ‘For patient you must be if you are to learn the lesson of beauty and adversity.’ As it became a part of my life, a new perspective I did see. Lesson mine, I’ll pass on to you…a lesson from out of life, a lesson etched in the sands of time, of beauty and adversity. That stone of testing remains in my life. I can see it as a channel to the world of God, a chance to produce in me a beautiful pearl, one of great price. This wonderful pearl, you see, produced a knowing that His grace is sufficient. It still produces a wonder in me. So hear, my child, and learn you well from the oyster’s life story. The testings from our loving God are only meant to be things of beauty, gems for all the world to see. These tests are sifted by God. Beauty can truly be born in the oven of adversity.”
Adapted from a poem by Robert F. McNutt
Bob was obviously of Irish decent. He has been a friend of mine since 1977. Many times I leaned on him heavily and he carried my weight. So, I pray this will be a blessing to you as it was to me.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. We’re persecuted, but we’re not abandoned. We’re captured, but we’re not killed. We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our bodies.
Give it some thought.
Gary