Simple Treasures
Jewels and precious metals, things that are beautiful, things that have value.
The value of a jewel is dependent upon the type of jewel it is, and the qualities it possesses, the cut, clarity, color, and size of the jewel all have an impact on its value.
The value of gold and silver are in part determined by purity and luster.
Many people desire to own these items, many work and pay much of their earnings toward the purchase of jewels and precious metals. If these things bring them joy and they appreciate their beauty I am happy for them as they acquire these things. While I have always realized the beauty and value of precious and semi-precious jewels and precious metals, I have never truly desired to own these things. In a sense to me they are just items. I am happier outside in the beauty of God's creation, spending time with my family and friends, in jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. To some I am probably an oddball, my lack of desire for jewels and precious metals, may make me seem unrefined to some people. I have never cared that I marched to the beat of my own drum, my uniqueness and my quirks are what make me who I am. However, there are times when we desire to be somewhat like others, and in an effort to be somewhat like others around me and have a commonality with people I may meet, I asked God to provide me with jewels, gold, and silver.
Did He give me jewels, gold, and silver? Yes and no.
God did not provide me with tangible jewels, and precious metals. However, He gave me the opportunity to see the most beautiful jewels I have ever laid my eyes upon, He gave me the opportunity to see gold ranging in intensity from a muted glow, to a gold that gleamed so brightly it looked as if it were flaming. The silver God provided me ranged from a sparkling silver, to a silver that cast a soft luminescence on everything it touched.
Do the jewels, gold, and silver that have been set before me have value? Yes and no.
My jewels, gold, and silver do not have a monetary value, but they do provide beauty for my eyes to view, they also bring joy to my heart, and peace to my soul.
In the morning hours as the sun makes its way above the horizon, and begins to cast its light down to earth, I can see that the ground is blanketed in a misty veil of dew. The dewdrops hang gingerly on individual blades of grass. I take my vantage point and look out over the yard, the dew covered grass sparkles as the sun rises farther in the sky, and sunlight begins to gently kiss each dewdrop. Soon, a palette of color bursts forth and comes into view. Clear, sparkling colors fill my sight. I look out and see varying shades of crystal clear, whites, reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, pinks, and browns. The colors come to life as the sunlight touches the dew, my yard is now covered in prismatic beauty. I let my mind wander and as my imagination takes over, I look across my yard, I see jewels. God has provided me with jewels, dewdrop jewels. I see tiny diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, citrines, garnets, amethysts, topazes, aquamarines, peridots, alexandrites, and tourmalines scattered over the grass, so perfect in their color, faceted by the beauty of nature. Each jewel rests gently on a blade of grass, placed so carefully it seems as if it was placed there by a delicate hand. I stand in awe at the glorious beauty of my dewdrop jewels, the beams of sunlight as they filter through the trees, transform each dewdrop from a minuscule drop of moisture to an exquisitely gorgeous tiny jewel. The jewels seem so real, that for a moment I think I can gather them, place them in a container and view their beauty at any time, but I know the moment my fingers touch the dewdrop jewel, it will cease to exist. Instead, I just stand and admire the beauty of the jewels scattered over my yard, and continue to watch in amazement as the jewels sparkle and share their beauty with me.
In the daylight hours as the sun traverses the sky, I see gold. Earlier in the morning when the sun is just making its way upward over the horizon, the shade of gold is soft and muted. I watch as the golden glow gently touches the earth, as the sunlight shines through the trees and the colors begin to spring to life. In the afternoon when the sun is high in the sky the brightness of the gold can at times be almost blinding. Late afternoon and early evening as the sun journeys downward in the sky, beams of golden light dance softly upon the tops of the trees. As the sun continues its journey downward, and if atmospheric conditions are conducive the beams of light appear as golden flames shining through the trees.
My mornings and afternoons are ofttimes filled with jewels and gold, which hold a rare, exquisite beauty, but there is still more magnificent beauty for me to behold. Outside at night, I can cast my eyes heavenward and see the moon in its different phases, sometimes it is nothing more than a sliver of light, but as it nears the full phase and during the time the moon is full it becomes an illuminated orb, set against a dark velvet sky, casting its silver light upon the land. At times the silver glow is not hindered by anything, at other times the glow passes through an occasional feathery cloud. I can bask in the beauty and the glow of the moon, in the cool, quiet of the night I am bathed in the light of silver beams.
For a short time each month the moon is hidden from view, during that time the sparkle of the stars is more noticeable than times when the moon is glowing. The view of the stars fill my eyes, again if the conditions are conducive the stars appear as crushed diamonds, strewn across the finest piece of midnight blue velvet.
Thinking on all of this I realize that God has not given me jewels, gold, and silver with any monetary value to them, what He has given me are precious jewels, gold, and silver to bring joy to my heart and peace to my soul. The value of tangible jewels, gold, and silver can be measured, and is often determined by the market supply and demand of these items. The value of my dewdrop jewels, sunlight gold, moonlight silver, and starry diamonds can not be measured in any way other than the joy and peace they bring to me, and their value will only change if my perception of them changes, or my appreciation of them dwindles, now, though, their value to me is priceless.
The duties of life sometimes steal my alone moments, but there are times when the conditions come together with a precision that can only be guided by God, and everyday life slows just enough to allow me to take a moment for myself, during those private moments, I can take into view my beautiful jewels, gold, and silver. At these times I stand still and silent, in an almost bewildered amazement, at the majestic beauty of God's creation. I then realize I am not an oddball, I am not unrefined, my uniqueness and my quirks are what allow me to appreciate the things that are many times taken for granted, and I am ashamed to say that in the hustle and bustle of life, I, too, sometimes take the beauty that surrounds me for granted.
Dewdrop jewels, sunlight gold, moonlight silver, and starry diamonds; each and every one of these things is a precious, priceless gift from the Master to me, each a part of God's wondrous creation. The beautiful sights God gives me to view, created by His hand, and colored with His love.
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