Beautiful Pearl

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How do you determine your value? Is it based on your intelligence or physical appearance? How others view or treat you? How well you fit in, perform or contribute? Often, people measure their value by some of these checklist items. But what if by doing that, they are missing the true measure of their worth?

Pearls are considered one of the most beautiful gems in the world.  Being the only gems produced by living organisms, their simple elegance makes them one of the most sought after jewels, and their versatility increases their appeal.

So, it's no wonder the Bible talks about their value. Matthew 7:6 urges us to guard pearls as precious, carefully choosing with whom, when & where we invest them. The passage says, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces". Revelation 21:21 describes the twelve gates of New Jerusalem (God's Eternal Kingdom), each gate being made of a pearl. And Jesus narrates the story of a pearl of great price in Matthew 13:45: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

In each of these passages, the hidden treasure of the gem is revealed, equating its worth to the splendor of God's Kingdom. But there's also something else interesting about pearls. Did you know that there are at least two different types of pearls - and that the rarity and value of the pearl depends on which type it is? Cultured pearls, the most common type, are grown with some crafting by humans. Whereas natural pearls are organically formed by less than 1 in 10,000 wild oysters, making them the most rare - and valuable - of the two types.

Pause for a moment to think about that. Natural pearls are instrinsicly valuable, while cultured pearls are formed into something of value. Natural pearls are rare in their formation, though cultured pearls are common because of their manufacturing. Thus, the naturally occurring pearl has a higher value in its uniqueness, gaining its worth from its natural craftsmenship.

Similarly, each of us have been naturally crafted by God, who has placed, within us, value similar to that of a beautiful pearl. His intention is that we seek Him for determining our value, rather than allowing circumstances, appearances or others create and assign value to us. That we treasure who He's created us to be, allowing Him to mold and mature us in to letting our true beauty and worth emerge - like a naturally formed, unique pearl.

For afterall, the beauty and value of a pearl lies in its natural form and rareness.

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Confidently embrace true beauty - from God's perspective.

Our brand, Bénir Boutique, strives to bless girls and women's lives by helping them realize their inner beauty, and that products serve only to enhance that beauty.  

The BEAUTY you see is the beauty WITHIN.

~ Be Blessed.