Diamonds

I’ve always been fascinated by the play of light. For instance, have you ever noticed how the dew on early morning grass looks like diamonds sparkling? This week I woke to see the sun glinting off a rose in our garden. The petals were full of tiny dew droplets that were radiating beauty. Today I was blessed to enjoy a boat ride in Hawaii and the early morning sun shimmered across the water as we got underway like gems scattered across the water.

 

I read Philippians 2:14 recently, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing…then you will shine…like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” I’m enjoying this vacation with a good friend who has a lot of pain and needs the assistance of a wheelchair. I’m inspired by her lack of complaining. I’m grateful for her honesty, but also how she focuses on what she can do and enjoys that. In my own struggles with mobility her attitude encourages me.

On our boat trip yesterday we had the privilege of sighting spinner dolphins. It was so fun. They even had a baby! The naturalist explained why they were swimming in pairs. Half of their brains were asleep, and each dolphin only had their outside eye open. As they swam, they were looking out for each other. How cool is that. Life is so much better with friends by our side, and how wonderful that the young one was safely positioned in the middle and being taught that doing life in community was best. The water even sparkled off their backs for us.

When Brent asked me to marry him, he gifted me with the most beautiful diamond ring. A couple of years ago I noticed that it was really cloudy and I couldn’t seem to get it clean. We visited a jewelry store and asked them to do a deep cleaning of it. The jeweler returned from the back of store wide eyed and asked us if we knew my diamond was cracked?

Cracked? How could that be?? After much explanation and a look under a microscope I had to accept that I had banged my ring going throughout life and starting from a natural inclusion in the stone, fissures had formed, and the gem had splintered. Only the prongs were holding the diamond together.

We can feel shattered by life. Hurtful events or disease can destroy our well being and sense of security. It’s especially tempting at times like these to argue with God about, “why?” Honesty is important but a prolonged negative attitude is destructive to our spirits.

I’m incredibly grateful to be post cancer treatment, free of cancer cells, and continuing to improve from the side effects of treatment. I’ve also prayed a lot of prayers that weren’t answered in the way I wished. Loosing my sister to covid last year was one of those. I don’t think I will ever understand the “why” while I’m here on earth. Maybe I will in heaven.

I’m so sorry if you have a current struggle that baffles you or has shattered your heart. Please know that there is hope in the midst. We may never know the “why” but we can know the One who holds us while we grieve and wants to give us hope for tomorrow.

No matter how hard life is, we have a choice. We can choose our response. As the apostle Paul encourages us in the verses above, we can complain or hold on to the word of life. When we choose to hold on, something beautiful happens. Despite the millions of pieces we feel broken into, we can shine like a star.

I want to shine, no matter what’s going on. I want to care about others even if my own heart is breaking. God can do miracles like this. “This I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning” (Lam 3:21-22).

Part of the culture of Hawaii is celebrating the beauty of each sunset. I so enjoy watching everyone stop what they are doing to revel in the beauty of the sun disappearing beyond the horizon. A friend gave us a sign we have in our home that says, “Sunsets remind us that each day can end beautifully.”

Each morning as we see the sun rise, or each evening as it sets may we celebrate. Today is a gift full of the grace and love we need for it. May the beauty of each sunrise and sunset fill our hearts with joy. We can know the One who is light in our darkness. He can also shine that light through us into the hearts of others as we come alongside them in this journey called life. Let’s shine like stars! (Or diamonds ☺️)