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Written by Judy Servidio
Mother’s jewels evoke special memories and thoughts—especially the pearls.
As I write this, the Thanksgiving holiday is over, and today was an early-to-rise day—I had to be at work to open our office, as I was subbing for Mary-Jane, our receptionist. I had some free time in between answering the phone, greeting visitors and handling deliveries, but I kept busy.
Missing Mother
My work day was happily speeding along. I was glad to be busy and avert the natural low I always experience after spending time with the children and grandchildren. We have so much fun and make fond memories.
This year’s Thanksgiving celebration was a bittersweet one, though, because of the absence of my mother who died in September. As my brother-in-law John put it—Dee Dee (Mother) had been at Thanksgivings for as long as he remembered being a part of our family. Thanksgiving wasn’t the same this year, as she was clearly missing.
One activity my sister and I had planned was to spend a little time going through Mother’s jewelry. She specifically asked that her jewelry be divided among us daughters. After some time, we accomplished the mission. So last night, I decided what to wear to work and how to accessorize. I chose three silver pieces of Mother’s jewelry and polished them and got them shiny clean. There. It was accomplished—the silver cuff, silver pinkie ring and silver pendant.
I joyfully donned them before exiting the house and driving to work. Once at work, I proudly showed them to my boss, Carla. We both took the opportunity to admire them.
Mother’s jewelry. … As I reflected on the day, I realized that Mother’s jewelry had brought me comfort and a sense of closeness to her. This jewelry took on a new importance and special relationship. It was a link to the past generation. It was a link to her qualities.
Why did these inanimate objects hold such comfort and satisfaction?
An array of pearls
Jewelry is very personal. Jewelry was one of Mother’s passions. Her taste in jewelry ran the gamut. My sister Bea classified it as eclectic. It ran from Chinese pendants to Mexican silver to gold coins and carved African ebony. Her jewelry was a trail of the passages and decades of her travels.
Most outstanding were her pearls. She had the broadest array of pearls. After all, they were her birthstone but also symbolized friendship, loyalty and faithfulness. How fitting, as she lived her life exuding those noble traits.
I can’t help but recall the week of Mother’s funeral and how thoughtful my sister had been to take one of Mother’s strands of pearls and have the jeweler make necklaces for each of the granddaughters and great-granddaughters to be worn at the funeral and as a keepsake. These necklaces were to serve as a connection between them and Mother and each other.
As I fingered through Mother’s jewelry boxes and touched the many pearls, it was natural to remember the pearl of great price Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13. Real pearls are greatly desired and pricey.
Black Friday and the pearl of great price
The Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday in the U.S. retail industry. It is considered the biggest shopping day of the year. Economists take note of the sales and measure it against past years to predict the health of the economy.
This Black Friday there was a sad story involving a crazed shopper in California who went to horrific lengths to secure the purchase of a toy she wanted to buy. It involved using pepper spray on other shoppers. That was certainly wrong, and it goes to show how an individual can be too concerned about the material and not concerned enough about the spiritual.
How fiercely are we protecting and valuing the real pearl of great price? We have the truth of God’s plan of salvation. We have the gift of His Spirit. He is a fair and merciful God. He has a plan to save everyone in his or her own time.
One way we can value this pearl is by living the way that God directs. It’s not our way but God’s. Search God’s mind through the Holy Scriptures. Read God’s Word. Pause and think on a Bible verse. Memorize it. Internalize it.
The next time I admire a strand of pearls or wear a pair of pearl earrings or sport a pearl ring, I’ll remember my mother. And I’ll also remember Jesus’ parable and cling tightly to the pearl of great price.
Judy Servidio resides in Texas. She shared many interests with her mother and always wanted to be just like her. She was a terrific mother. Besides inheriting some of her characteristics, Judy inherited some cherished pieces of jewelry. She has a love for pearls too.
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