A tiny grain of sand

Today as I walked along the beach, the sand was dry and hot along the upper rim. It reflected the sun making the 90+ degree weather seem even hotter. As I moved closer to the water, the sand was wet and tightly packed providing much needed coolness to my bare feet. Walking along the water's edge, I enjoyed a wonderful ocean breeze. Although it was still hot; I barely noticed it because the wind was constantly blowing. I walked for hours. My body grew tired and thirsty. Instead of continuing on, I decided to rest and return later in the evening.

Back at the hotel, I washed my sandy feet and climbed in bed for an afternoon nap. I tried to sleep but couldn't because something felt like it was in my toes. Apparently a tiny grain of sand had gotten wedged in between my little toe and the one next to it. It irritated me so much that I had to get up and wash my feet again to remove the culprit. He could such a tiny thing bother me so much?

As I headed back to bed, I began to think about the way God uses little things that irritate us to teach valuable lessons like patience. He can use those minor irritations in our lives to bring about much needed change.

On the beach that day, I had passed many beautiful sea shells. Among the pretty ones, there were also some ugly ones like the oyster shell. On the outside, it has no pretty markings. It's just very plain and somewhat deformed. But an oyster is quite unique. It yields one of the most prized gems, the pearl.

A pearl is formed when an irritant becomes embedded in an oyster's shell lining. Instead of trying to rid itself of the problem, the oyster secretes layer upon layer of a protective coating which ultimately becomes a beautiful pearl. How something so wondrous emerges from an oyster's way of protecting itself is one of nature's loveliest surprises.

The grain of sand between my toes really bothered me...but not as badly as the horrible, cancerous tumor growing inside me. On Wednesday, the surgeon will remove it because if left inside me, it would multiply and spread. It wouldn't produce anything beneficial on it's own but, God can use this minor irritation, this disruption in my life, to help me focus on a greater good. I can see it as a gift that causes me to look for the "pearl" in my pain. Will I choose to only look at the Cancer as an irritant, complaining every day or will I layer positivity over it enveloping it in cocoon of hope?

Yes, I'll admit this Cancer isn't something I ever expected, it's a huge irritation, just like that little piece of sand cutting the inside of my toes but since it's not where I can personally remove it, I'll have to coat it with thin layers of expectant hope. In the days to come, I will be looking for how God can use it in my life to reveal a beautiful thing.

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