A Pearl of Great Price

I have always loved pearls. To me they are a symbol of classic, simplistic beauty. And they just so happen to be the birthstone for June - which is when I was born.


On a choir tour during college we went to Walt Disney's Epcot Center. In the country exhibit for China they had a table full of oysters. Guests could spend $10 to select an oyster and hope for a hidden pearl inside. I remember standing in awe watching as they opened oyster after oyster. Some had pearls, some did not. Of those that did have pearls, some were better than others. To indicate the quality of each pearl found, they would ring a bell - the louder then bell, the more valuable the pearl. I took a calculated risk and handed over my $10, sincerely doubting I would get much of anything. I was tickled to receive a loud peeling of bells as my pearl was discovered. I still have it.

How a pearl is formed is one of God's fascinating mysteries. There is a beautiful lesson here.


No matter how secure the oyster may think its shell is, there is always the possibility that an intrusive irritant can get through. Often the irritant is so painful that it can kill the creature. If the oyster survives, it sets to work dealing with the pain and creating a stunning byproduct.  Instead of ignoring the pain, the creature wraps it up with its spit (essentially)! It painstakingly works to heal the pain in the solitude of its own shell, covering it with a soothing balm. Some oysters work on the same irritant for months, some even years. But when its work gets done - wow, what a treasure!
My dear friend Kim calls me Pearl, because she sees something of value in me. I cherish that nickname and am beginning to see how fitting it is.


I had a very tough shell that I thought was impenetrable, and then, a year ago today, my husband left. Talk about an unanticipated irritant! Over the past year, with much encouragement from family and friends and heavily leaning into the Lord, I have taken the pain and not allowed it to kill me. I have dealt with it and used it to create a more beautiful me.


I am a different person than I was a year ago. My faith and relationship with God has never been more strong or more real. I have REAL friends - people who love me at my highest and lowest, who pray for me and point me toward Jesus. I have strength and resolve and feistiness that I didn't know I had. I know what is important to me, what I want; I am unwilling to settle for less than God's best for my life. I've always been a "people person", but I have discovered that I have a huge capacity for love...I feel it bubble up when I'm with my students, my family, my friends. My life has become an open book, now that it's not "perfect", because I want to help others create a pearl of their own.


The Evil one has tried to thwart my pearl making process. He always seems to hit me when I'm tired, confused or down. But I'm on to him and I'm tired of him throwing doubts and lies my way.


The TRUTH is that I am a daughter of the Most High God Who loves me with an everlasting love. The TRUTH is I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do amazing things. The TRUTH is He will never leave me or forsake me. The TRUTH is He has plans for my future. The TRUTH is He will grant me the desires of my heart as I delight in Him. I am His Pearl.

John David Scrivener

JOHN DAVID SCRIVENER

one of the bravest people I have ever known

 

 

This cute kid has been my buddy for the last seven years. I've known him since he was a baby because I taught his two older sisters, Kathryn and Celia. Then I was privileged to be his music teacher once he started kindergarten. He was always such a quick witted kid - he kept me on my toes and smiling. I will never forget when he came to school on "what I want to be when I grow up" career dress up day when he was in 1st grade. He came dressed as a clown. What a character!

 

(The picture above was taken at an afterschool basketball game. He came to cheer on his big sister Celia and chose to sit by me. Our courtside game commentary had me cracking up!)

 

He enjoyed my music class even though singing wasn't his "thing". He would jokingly roll his eyes when I expected he and his classmates to do schmaltzy choreography - but he would comply to make me happy. In the spring of 2012, when he was in 2nd grade, we were in rehearsals for our end of the year spring show. I vividly remember John David standing on the top row of the risers set up in our gymnasium for the program. He looked at me with wide eyes and his face went pale. I asked him if was ok and he replied that he felt dizzy. I promptly moved him to the bottom row. He didn't want to mess up the standing arrangement, but I assured him that it was ok and that I wanted to make sure he felt secure. He still looked nervous, so I suggested he go get a drink of water and stand on solid ground for a few minutes. His teacher, Mrs. Runyan noticed his distress as well and decided to call his mom because it was so unlike him to complain about anything. His mom came and picked him up and took him to the doctor because he had been complaining about being lightheaded for a while - the assumption was that it was caused by allergies. It was then that a mass in his brain was discovered and his battle against cancer began.  

 

And what a battle he fought! What a tough little warrior! And through it all he maintained his sense of humor and his ability to make people smile. He returned to school when he could, though it was sporadic because of all his treatments and appointments. Bracelets were made and distributed as a reminder to pray for John David. And as a school, we prayed for him every morning. Even the kids that didn't know him learned about him as we lifted his name to the Lord each day during devotions.

 

We love John David

 

In the fall of this year, he had such a good report that the plan was for him to finally be able to come back to school on a semi regular basis. I heard his friends talk about how excited he was about that. Unfortunately, the good report didn't last long and his condition began to worsen. By Christmas, he had lost his voice. 

 

 

Even though he couldn't be with us at school on a regular basis over the last 3 years, he was determined to join us at the annual Christmas concert to sing "Joy to the World", our traditional finale song when I invite any of my former students (usually older siblings to my younger students) to join us on stage and sing along. After he got sick, his entire demeanor about singing had changed - when he sang, it was like watching an angel. This past Christmas was no different, except he had no voice with which to sing. So, his sister Celia figured out how to teach him sign language to Joy to the World. I will never forget that experience as long as I live. I signed along with him and felt the presence of God in a powerful way. I had nearly 200 kids singing on stage, but it was if he and I were the only ones there praising God together.

 

He gave me a thumbs up after it was over.

 

Hospice was called in last week and we were all told that it was just a matter of time before he would be gone. We gathered together during morning devotions and made a prayer circle - teachers and little kindergarteners through junior high students. Lots of voices were raised in prayer. It was beautiful to hear little ones calling out to God. At the end of devotions every day we close by saying, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God", then everyone is dismissed to their classrooms. On Thursday, the benediction was spoken and then nobody moved. We all just stood there, some of us numb, many of us weeping.  That was at 8:30. He spirit left this world and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus around 11:45 that morning.

My friend and art teacher at our school, Jodi Beavers and I worked during the morning hours on decorative pieces that would be used at his funeral. John David loved Disney, so all the students and teachers decorated stars ("When you Wish Upon A Star") to honor him. Jodi and I created a giant Mickey Mouse to help display the stars and it was set up at the funeral chapel. I had a lump in my throat as we worked rather silently on this project. It was so surreal and certainly never something I thought I would ever have to do.

His memorial service was this afternoon. It seemed as if everyone in town was there. The chapel was full, as well as both overflow rooms. My best friend Lori was asked to speak during the service. She taught both Kathryn and Celia and tutored John David during the summers because he had missed so much school. She was nervous and worried that her emotions would hinder her from saying what needed to be said. She felt like she was unworthy to speak about the life of such an amazing little man. I assured her that she had been given that privilege for a reason and that God would use her...and of course, I would pray for her to have courage. Well, lo and behold, we got to the chapel and I was asked to lead the congregation in singing Amazing Grace. I had to accept, of course, but, oh my goodness. I too felt unworthy. Plus I had never sung at any funeral before...much less one of the saddest ones I have ever had to attend. I asked my family and a few friends to pray for me, then I spent some silent time with the Lord. The Bible says when I am weak, He is strong - and its so true. I admitted to God that I was in no way emotionally or mentally prepared to sing a cappella (which leaves little room for error) in front of a crowd that large.  I honestly said, "Lord, here I am. Use my voice as an instrument of Your peace. I cannot do this without You - in fact, I'm at about 2%, so You will have to supply the other 98%. And you know what? He did. I've never heard myself sing that song with better tone and clarity - and I even had sinus issues today. God is good. All the time. And what a honor to be asked to help lead the weary and grieving to a place of worship as we sang about our God who is full of mercy and grace.

This young man is my hero. His short life was full of impact. He lived well and he finished his race. I have never met anyone so brave. He met overwhelming challenges head on, took them in stride,  and managed to maintain his amazing wit and kept a smile on his face.

 

Rest well in the arms of Jesus, John David.

Please be in prayer for the Scrivener family: Jeff, Kim, Kathryn and Celia.

Please pray for his sweet friends and family members who I wept with today.