I’ve slept like a rock lately. Which is to say, very badly. (Rocks can’t sleep.) So last night at bedtime, I prayed for blissful oblivion.
Result?
Brain woke me at 2 a.m., shouting, “Wakey, wakey!”
“What? No, Brain, I need sleep!”
“But I’m feeling weird and vaguely anxious.”
“Well, can’t you do that while I sleep?” I asked.
“Nope, I want company!”
So I lay there, amidst the latest installment of forever, trying to calm Brain down. But Brain wanted to fret, and it’s remarkably stubborn when it’s made up it’s, um, mind.
“Why, God?” I prayed.
A silent but surprisingly loud voice answered, “Don’t waste your time asking why. Ask what you can learn from this.”
“OK,” I sighed, “what can I learn from this?”
“That there’s always treasure to be found, even if it’s not the treasure you sought. And in the end, who knows, it might turn out to be even more valuable.”
While I pondered this, Brain got interested and tuned in. Then Brain and I wandered from that thought to another, and another, forgetting what originally woke us up, and growing groggier as we went.
I drifted in and out of sleep the rest of the night, but felt strangely peaceful when I awoke. I was thinking about pearls.
Pearls are unique among gems. They begin with an irritant, a worthless thing, and then grow more-and-more valuable. The Oyster coats them with its nacre (“mother-of-pearl”), its tears, if you will. But unlike the irritant, nacre is beautiful. It’s the Oyster’s essence, what it’s made of. And as layer after layer of the beautiful substance is added, the pearl itself becomes more and more beautiful. More and more complete.
I’m still kind of tired, but now I’m pondering how I found a fresh way of coping. I followed one image after another into a peaceful calm that was even better than a night of mere oblivion. I found…
A more valuable treasure than the one I sought.
℘
“Consider it pure joy when you encounter trials of various kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And perseverance, when it has finished its work, is the one thing that can make you mature and complete, no longer lacking in anything.” ~James 1:2-4
Mitch Teemley 
Oh yeah the ol’ night watch. The night is the best time for God to have our full attention,whereas through the day we are busy with the tasks of the day! Blessings Mitch.
Julia
https://precioussheepofrenown.com/2013/07/02/the-night-watch/
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Thank you, you too, Julia.
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You and me both. I haven’t been sleeping well lately either, and I was also wide awake at 2 a.m. Very nice and encouraging thoughts.
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Deep night wisdom is the BEST. Beautifully brought 🥳
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Thank you, Zoe.
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An old monk once told me to give my sufferings to Christ, the only way that pearls are formed. Else our troubles are for naught. “Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make” . . . a pearl out of a fool like me.
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“That there’s always treasure to be found, even if it’s not the treasure you sought.” Thank you for sharing! Such a beautiful reminder. ❤️
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My pleasure, PG.
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Amen, Mitch! Finding the pearls in the cesspool is something I speak of often. God’s ways really are better than our ways. We can trust in Him. Long ago I drug my kids out of the pool and they were absolutely miserable, uncooperative, unhappy about it. We were actually at Disneyland and I just thought that maybe we should leave the joys of the motel to go see the park, go on some rides! I have a picture somewhere of the most depressed, pouty children, waiting in line at Disneyland like someone just stole their ice cream cones. I totally get it, that’s often how I am with God. Honest, His intentions are good and He is trying to bless us with treasures. 🙂
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Yep. (Love the story, btw.) We humans are pretty obtuse, to say the least.
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The scripture James 1: 2-4 that you posted really helped me.
I’m going through a very trying time and it helps to have scripture that confirms whats going on.
Thanks
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I had insomnia last night, but without the sanguine awakening.
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:>( Been there, Liz. For what it’s worth, my sanguinity took a while.
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It’s good to know I’m not alone in that.
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Writers’ minds have minds of their own and keep us awake at night. Not as bad as the voices who talk in our heads throughout the day.
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Hi Mitch,
I did want to touch base to let you know that I watched your movie on prime, Congratulate you and say BRAVO!!
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Thank you, Laura. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! If you haven’t already, may I encourage you to share it on Facebook, and to leave a brief review at Amazon? (The more reviews it gets, the more they recommend it). Also, you can rate it from 1 to 10 stars on IMDb (link below). Note: IMDb only recognizes the rating if you rate a few other movies, as well. Blessings! ~Mitch https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5848326/
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It is often amazing what can be accomplished in the small dark hours of the night / early morning.
And God willing he gives you the energy to make it through the day 😁
Many a night like this at the mo…
Blessings
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When I wake up at night I often wonder is there is something I am suppose to learn or did a cat jump on the bed again. It can be confusing.
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;>)
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Love this! He’s definitely been teaching and talking at night!
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Beautiful 💛
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Thank you, Karla.
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You’re welcome! Your writing always inspires me. ❣️
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What a great treasure birthed from a restless night’s sleep.
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