Point 5 of 5. The last one. And maybe the one that stuck with me the most
While she didn't share exactly what her struggles were, I know that I heard the shadows that echoed in my own struggles this past year. No matter how little time you have for them, there always seems to be some dark cloud or shadow that is more than willing to darken your doorstep for many more days that you feel that you can handle. And on those days , what do we women do? We retreat. We retreat into a dark cave within ourselves because we just can't deal with the bruises we feel that our hearts have sustained.
And this was that moment I was nodding my head along with Holly's every word because she spoke to a place in me that still feels bruised - like a bruise that's been there long enough to start to change from blackish purple to a really ugly mix of green and purple and it still hurts if its pressed or bumped in just the right way because its just below the surface.
What she said next made me catch my breath because it made so much sense.
"We can sit in the dark or we can start mining the diamonds in our difficulties."
She said she got to a point where the burden was so heavy - unbearable - that she made this promise to herself, "I will not leave the difficulties empty handed. (I'm going to get some stinkin' jewelry!)"
She continued speaking right to us, right to me. "Focus on your diamonds even in your cave. Nothing is worthless in his eyes. He wants to show you the worth in your cave."
And as hard as it is to sort through in the dark as you are bumbling around and feeling lost, bumping your head and bruising your shins as if you really are in a cave, it makes soooo much sense. Why in the world would I want to sit there miserable, crying and whining to myself, and then when I finally crawl out of that cave (which I will one day do for all things pass), WHY WOULD I NOT WISH TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT?
This lead me to thinking about not only about myself, but also others around me. Each of us has our bruises and our dark caves to which we retreat. My hope is that through Premier Designs Jewelry, I can not only find that which is of value in my life, but I can also help others find the diamonds in their own caves. That is my goal and a mission which I need God to accomplish. That is a diamond that I can chase after and offer up out of love to others around me. That's worth actually getting out of bed in the morning.