A pearl is formed because the oyster is irritated by a tiny object, such as a grain of sand, that gets trapped between the oyster’s mantle and its shell. To relieve its discomfort the oyster secretes layers of mother-of-pearl (nacre) around the grain to smooth it and soothe the irritation.

I have been looking for a pearl. The grain of sand was shame. Layers have been formed to protect me from this event. The surprise was not the grain of shame. It was the stories I told myself to soothe the hurt.

I saw those layers this morning. That one event shifted my thinking. It changed how I saw myself. The shame sent me in a different direction. The consequence was unintended, but the result caused a shift in my identity and goals.

The term Pearls of Wisdom has a whole new meaning. I did not want this pearl, but I needed to find it to move forward.

Be careful what you say to your daughters. Pearls are made from pain.

FLOW