Transformation

Over the last several days I have had an unexplainable irritant hovering in my heart.  Not being able to truly place a name or cause, I have slowly begun to give it reasons, finding fault in life, others around me and even my poor beagles.  I am becoming a grump-butt.  Last night, I truly did not like this person that resides in this ample flesh. I went to bed.  Not much of a solution, but at least those around me are safe from the monster within this woman. 
As a woman I can use a variety of excuses.  I can no longer tag PMS, for those days have long gone.  I guess I could lean on mid-life moodiness, but I do not think that is a fair assessment.  Yes, the hot flashes come frequently.  The furnace of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo burns deep within this body, but like those three heros of old, I would choose to find the Son of God within it's flames.
This morning I decided to start my morning off with prayer and of course, God's wonderful brew...coffee.  (Thank you for that stuff, Lord!) He reminded me of something David our pastor said in his sermon. He was talking about Heaven, but leave it to God to have a different application for me.  He was reading from Revelations about the City of Heaven according to the visions that the Lord gave the apostle John.  The passage is Revelations 21:21 where John talks about the 12 gates to the city and that they were made of pearl.  David reminded us about the oyster.  He explained that the oyster gets an irritant stuck inside him that he just cannot shake loose.  In order to protect the animal, God has created the oyster with the ability to coat that irritating nuance with calcium, until finally the once irritant is a beautiful precious jewel...a pearl of great price.  The gateways to Heaven are made from the hardships of you and I.  I found that fascinating.  Whatever is bothering me, is nothing compared to what I have endured, but nonetheless, something is rubbing me raw.  Today I pray, "Lord, turn my nagging irritant into a precious pearl worthy of a gate that ushers me into your presence."  It will be a better day.