Gracegrowers

A Journey through Cancer
By Muffet Dolar Villegas

“Gracegrowers”

Two prisoners looked out of the window. One saw the bars and the other saw the stars.

I love pearls. They come in different array of colors like white, pink, blue or the rare ones which are the black pearls. They are magical and feminine, and the only gems which come from a living organism which is an oyster.
But these lovely gems started as “irritants”. These irritants are mostly sand that gets inside the oyster shells. To protect itself, the oyster tries to cover these foreign bodies with layers of pearly substance known as “nacre” which gives the pearl a unique appearance and iridescent glow. As time goes by, these so called irritants become pearls.
In life , we meet people or trials that may irritate us, yet somehow they produce life enduring values like patience, love, long-suffering humility or faith.
I borrowed the term “gracegrowers” from someone who also borrowed this term from another. Gracegrowers refer to people or circumstances that are hard to understand or love yet they mold us positively or negatively depending on what we are made of.
I’m sure you have met this person sometime, somehow, or you may have encountered trials or problems beyond compare. Whether we like it or not they are part of our daily existence. They may be fleeting occurences or someone you have to live with for the rest of your lives.
Have you breathed these words,” This person brings out the worst in me.” or “ I wish this ordeal ends.”
Sometimes, these irritants are vital in our growth. God seems to allow them in or lives for some purpose. We only learn to be more patient with people who stretch our patience. We learn to love unconditionally to those who are hard to love. Trials produce fortitude, courage, endurance and faith. Gracegrowers may produce pearls someday.
They say that success is not the real test of character, but give a man failure and you will know who he is.