| Subject: The Pearls |
Author:
Dusty
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 07:59:41 01/29/02 Tue
Author Host/IP: spider-wi061.proxy.aol.com/205.188.197.46
THE PEARLS
His parents named him Jacob
He was their pride and joy
For though the youngest child of five
He was the only boy!
They had left their country
To seek a better life;
Years ago with almost nothing
A new husband and his wife
Two worn-out cloth valises
Held spare clothes, some precious books
His Daddy's bible, her Mama's pearls
These things were all they took
For the passage was expensive
It cost nearly all they had
But they were here---America!
And both their hearts were glad
He found work and so did she
They worked and saved for years
The day they bought the little house
She could not hide her tears
Then the babies started coming
Four daughters in a row
Money and space were in short supply
As the kids began to grow
But they always felt so lucky
So blessed by God above
Their children grew in an atmosphere
Of devotion, prayer and love
Her fifth pregnancy was awful
And when the doctor said, "No more"
She fervently prayed that Heaven send
The son her husband longed for
Her strong faith was rewarded
The day Jacob came to be
The joy and pride on Papa's face
Was a wondrous thing to see
As the children grew they listened
To the stories Mama'd tell
Of the hardships and the sadness
In the homeland she'd known well
They'd each heard a hundred times
About Mama's precious pearls
A legacy that would upon her death
Pass to the eldest girl
The strand of glowing, lustrous beads
Made the little daughters gasp
Each time Mama proudly showed
The engraving on the clasp
M. I. S. in flowing script
May Irene Sullivan was the name
Of their mother's great-great aunt
Whose beauty brought her fame
The pearls had been a wedding gift
To May in 1881
She'd later left them to her daughter
And the tradition had begun
That's why Mama was determined
To do her part, just so
In passing the legacy of the pearls
That had begun so long ago
Life continued, years went by
The girls set out on their own
Until Jacob was the only one
Left living still at home
His Mama doted on him
Thought he could do no wrong
And Papa just adored the son
He'd waited for so long
They spoiled the boy quite shamelessly
And those who knew him well
Were not suprised to see him head
Down a path aimed straight for hell
His parents were both getting on
Their health was not the best
And constant worry about their son
Was a persistent daily test
He took up with a rowdy crowd
At 16, he quit school
Sparking many bitter quarrels
For that was Papa's strictest rule
With heavy drinking, drugs and crime
The family now was torn apart
Completely selfish--he never cared
That he broke his parents' hearts
Arrested and jailed several times
As he stole to feed his habit
The drug was in complete control
He simply had to have it
Papa shouted, Mama prayed
But the son was too far gone
Jacob had little, if any, backbone
And he had never been that strong
Then one night Papa had a stroke
While arguing with his son
Jacob wanted money, but the older man
Cried, "Not a single cent! Not one!
I will not nail your coffin shut
And there's no need to ask why...
You're my son-----I love you far too much
To sit and watch you die!"
The ambulance crew took him away
Sirens screaming down the block
Mama, too....she wouldn't leave him
Jacob stood there alone in shock
In anger and desperation
He blindly kicked the front door shut
He needed a fix......He'd have to find
Something to sell; but what?
Then all at once, it hit him
Mama's antique pearls!
They'd fetch a pretty sum, indeed
To hell with the oldest girl!
Racing to his parents' bedroom
He quickly looked around;
When he spotted the tiny wooden chest
He grabbed it without a sound
He dumped the contents on the bed
Searching for the strand
A second later he fled the house
Mama's dream clutched in his hand
Two pawnshops later, the cash was his
Earned with treachery and lies
He vaguely knew he'd not go back
That he'd severed all the ties
He knew he'd never have the nerve
After the evil thing he'd done
To see how Mama would react
To this betrayal by her son...
And so he struck out on his own
Without ever looking back
Years went by and still he stayed
Addicted to the drug called 'crack'
In and out of courtrooms
Back alleys and dirty halls
Through 7 states in as many years
He was no stranger to prison walls
To him, crime was irrelevant
For his one and only goal
Was money for the addiction
Which owned him body, heart and soul
He never thought about the past
Kept the memories locked inside
He'd never heard or even cared
If Papa'd pulled through or died
Then once again he went to prison
The sentence.....five long years
Finally after all this time
His head began to clear
Fogged so long with drugs and pain
When memory did return
It brought disgust and horror
Causing bitter tears to burn
He never had a moment's peace
His heart filled with only shame
He knew the fault was his alone
There was no one else to blame
He was far beyond all forgiveness
Knowing the guilt would never cease
He allowed himself no hope at all
Thought only death could bring release
The prison chaplain used to visit
With each prisoner once a week
And although he always offered
Jacob refused to even speak
Then one day is desperation
The minister whispered, "Jesus knows!
About all the things you've ever done
Even the worst...especially those!"
But Jacob never moved a muscle
The good man gave up with a sigh,
He'd felt compelled to help this boy
Unsure exactly why...
So next time he approached the cell
His old heart skipped a beat
When Jacob motioned to him
Though still staring at his feet...
"Could I come in? We'll have a talk?"
The prisoner gave a sheepish nod
For hours the preacher sat and talked
About Heaven, sin and God...
He explained about forgiveness
Telling how only Jesus could
Forgive all sin----He'd paid the price
On a cross made out of wood
But Jacob sadly shook his head
"Forgiveness isn't for everyone!"
Even God would be disgusted
By the awful things I've done!"
Then the chaplain took his hand
"Son, you're the reason Jesus died!"
He sent me here to tell you so!"
Then he held him as he cried
So ten years almost now had passed
Exactly to the day
When Jacob first had asked the Savior
To come and wash his sins away
From that moment on his life had changed
The transformation clearly showed
Everyone he met was most impressed
The young man fairly glowed!
Once released from prison
With the chaplain as his friend
He worked with inmates who were facing
Execution at the end
But deep inside his heart of hearts
Jacob still felt unforgiven
For the worst betrayal of his life
The one sin he'd kept hidden
He'd confessed all the other things
That he'd done wrong till now
But stealing his mother's treasured pearls?
He couldn't find the words somehow
One day he told the chaplain
That he'd been praying for a sign
From the Lord to plainly show
That his sins were far behind
The old man smiled,"Jacob
That's why they call it Faith
Be thankful you found salvation
Before it was too late!"
"Tell me son, have you ever thought
Of returning to your home?
I'm sure your folks would be delighted
Why spend your life alone?"
But Jacob shook his head in horror
"That I could never do!
I can't atone for what I've done
I've told no one-----not even you!"
Then the chaplain sadly shrugged
"You must learn to trust the Lord,"
To win salvation, you must not doubt
That's a risk you can't afford!"
As another year passed slowly by
And Jacob, haunted by the vision
Of Mama's hatred and rejection
Was torn with indecision...
But he couldn't push the thought away
That he should visit while he could
Although his heart was very sure
That it would do no good...
So he wrote his youngest sister
Who answered right away
His father had died, but Mama lived
And he must not waste another day!
Reluctantly he started out
Though his heart was filled with dread
Recalling his talk with the chaplain
And how his old friend had said
That true faith meant not needing signs
To know you were forgiven
But Jacob still had never told a soul
About the sin that he kept hidden
While still miles away from home
He had a brilliant thought
Instead of going empty-handed
He would bring a gift he'd bought!
Something that said "I'm sorry"
For causing you such pain...
How I wish I could return
And make the choice again
He stared out the bus' window
As they slowed at some small station
For a break and what he saw
Gave him an inspiration!
He couldn't replace the precious pearls
That he'd stolen long ago
But he could find another strand
To give her, and they would show
That he was truly sorry
How he regretted what he'd done
That he hoped she could forgive
And still love her only son!
He hurried to the pawn shop
With hope running through his mind
They only had a single strand
Which he purchased just in time!
The reunion with his Mama
Was all he'd dreamed and more
She cried and held him tenderly
Like she had when he was four...
He told her about the chaplain
How he'd spent his prison days
And he confessed his secret fear
That not all sin was wiped away
But she agreed with his old friend
Faith means no doubt or pretext
Jesus says we are forgiven
In this world and the next
Then Jacob pulled the package
From the pocket of his shirt
"Mama, I know these are not
Of any real worth...
But its my way of saying "Forgive me
For my sin of long ago..
Your pearls are gone that much is true
But these are so you'll know
How much regret is in my heart
How much I would undo....
I wish so much I could return
The dream I took from you"
While he was saying all these things
His mother had unwrapped
The strand of pearls and now she sat
With them resting in her lap
"These pearls are just as beautiful
As the ones I had to start..
Even more so, for I know
They're a gift straight from your heart!"
She fingered the milky strand again
As she peered at the clasp
Her old eyes straining hard to see
Then she gave a startled gasp!
Her frail heart beat frantically
As she looked up at Jacob's face
Wondering how on earth to tell her son
That a miracle had taken place!!
"Jacob dear....come closer please
He moved nearer to where she lay
"You must listen closely now...
To what I'm going to say!"
"What you said about a sign
That you wanted God to send
So that you'd know you were forgiven
Before you reached the end?"
Jacob nodded slowly, puzzled
She said, "Son, you'd better sit
For God has granted you that sign
And I'm sure this must be it!"
"Do you remember from my stories
About who owned the pearls?
He nodded, "May Irene Sullivan!
The most beautiful of girls!!"
He smiled, "Her husband had the clasp engraved
With the initials of her name
"M.I.S." his mother wept...
"Look son......they are the same!"
In wonder Jacob focused
On the tiny flowing letters
Some would cry "Coincidence!"
But in his heart he knew much better!
The odds were astronomical
Against accident or design
Being the reason for the pearls return
This was his much prayed-for sign!
Joyous tears streamed down his face
"Mama...look what God has done!!"
She nodded, smiling, "He's given back
My precious, only son.......
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 