The Pearl Necklace

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This is adapted for Christmas from a similar story found online, but did not find an author's name. If anyone finds an author, I will delete this promptly.
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One day in early December, Jenny (who is almost 5) was at the Dollar store with her mom. Mom was looking for Christmas decorations, but Jenny was just looking at things on the shelves she could see. Mom had picked up quite a few things when she heard Jenny’s excited voice, “MOMMY – look at that beautiful necklace!” Mom looked at it, a simple, cheap necklace made of play/faux pearls strung by elastic. Mom did not share her excitement knowing it could break easily with beads going everywhere. Jennie tugged on her mom, once, twice, and said, “I really WANT that pearl necklace mommy, can I have them, please!”

As mom stood in line to check out, Jenny tugged again at her mom and pleaded one last time for the necklace.

“Jenny, will you help me bake cookies without complaining?” “YES”, said Jenny. “OK",agreed mom. Jenny ran back to the necklace she had her eye on, carefully picked it up and went back, smiling, to the check out.

The minute she got in the car, Jenny opened the box and proudly put on the necklace. She felt so pretty and so grown up. Jenny wore them everywhere – Church, School, play, even to bed.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night he would read her a story and pray with her.

One night when he finished the story he asked Jenny: “Do you love me?” “Oh Yes Daddy. You know that I love you”, said Jenny. “Then give me your pearls,” said dad. “Oh Daddy, not my pearls! You can have my favorite pink horse, Daddy! You gave me that one remember Daddy? That is my favorite one!” “That’s ok, Honey”, said dad. “Daddy loves you. Good Night”, and he gave her a kiss.

About a week later, after story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?” “Daddy you KNOW that I love you”. “Then give me your pearls”. “Oh daddy not my pearls. You can have my baby doll. The new one I just got for my birthday. You can even have the blanket and her clothes.” “That’s ok. Sleep well. God bless you. Daddy loves you”, and he gave her a kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed. As he came close he noticed Jenny was softly crying. “What is wrong, Jenny? Why are you crying?”

Quietly she lifted her little hand up to her daddy. When she opened it, her pearl necklace was in her hand. She said, “Daddy…this is for you, I do love you”.

With tears in his eyes, Daddy took the necklace and said, “I am so glad you love me that much”.

On Christmas morning, when all the gifts had been opened, daddy handed Jenny the gift hidden in the tree. She opened it and saw a blue velvet bag. Carefully she emptied the contents into her little hands….there was a strand of REAL pearls.

She put her arms around her daddy, and said, “Oh thank you…they are beautiful!”

See the Daddy had the real pearls for several months, but he wanted Jenny’s heart to be prepared to welcome the pearl necklace of value. Her heart seemed satisfied with the cheap one. He needed her to be willing to lay down the cheap one, so he could bless her with the real one.

What are we hanging on to? We think we can’t live without it? It makes us feel so good. But if we give everything we have to God, HE will shower us with blessings that are more valuable than we could ever imagine. #

Deaf Interpreter

Recently I was in a store and saw a deaf man that I know. He greeted me in his usual kind way, and then he introduced me to someone he was with. He introduced me as "an Interpreter". I cannot tell you how my body reacted inside! I had to hold back the tears. It brought back so much emotion for me, as all the past years of loving deaf people flashed before my mind.

The LAST thing I ever wanted to be to a deaf person was "an interpreter". I want to be their "FRIEND".

I did NOT learn sign language so I could "fill in the blanks" for them. I did not learn sign language to earn money off of their closed ears. I did not learn sign language to be the go between for them, or even an advocate for them. I learned sign language because I wanted to get to know them! I wanted to know them as people, their thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and opinions. It wasn't until years after I learned sign language that I realized since I was a hearing person, that automatically put me in the position of "interpreter".

For years I argued with God. I repeatedly asked him WHY He didn't make me deaf. I don't want to be known as their INTERPRETER, I want to be known as their FRIEND.

Being married to Ken since 1973 has tremendously helped me to gather peace in this area. Ken has helped me to see that GOD made me hearing for a reason, just like HE made them deaf, for a reason. I may WANT to be deaf to be more welcomed into their lives, but I am not deaf, by GOD'S design.

Ken helped me to see how my feelings are no different than anyone else who is wishing they were someone else, instead of accepting who they are by God's design. Over the years I have come to peace with my position before God.

I count it an HONOR to be able to bring music to deaf people BECAUSE I can hear. I count it an HONOR to be able to help them understand their doctor's better, and have their feelings and opinions explained more clearly to the Doctors. But most of all, I count is an HONOR to be able to interpret the Word of God standing next to my husband, who is my Pastor.

I am so grateful for God putting Ken into my life! He has walked with me thru some tough times.

So if I have this peace, why did this deaf man's words cut me to the quick?

I think it was just a IN MY FACE reminder of where I was, and where I am today.

Even though I would much RATHER be introduced as their friend, I am thrilled to be known by them at all, and thrilled that God has given me enough skill that THEY would call me "an Interpreter"!