naming of my blog - "why pearl necklace?"

Pearl Necklace

Once there was a little girl who adored jewellery. She spent her childhood playing dress-up with her fake gems. When her parents would go to the local mall, this little girl would always beg to go with just so that she could gaze at the real stones glittering in the shop windows.
During one such trip, they passed by a discount store. It was then that the little girl spotted a pearl necklace hanging in the window; the white beads seemed to glow alluringly. Next to the necklace dangled the price tag, which read $4.99.
She would only receive a quarter for her weekly allowance, which meant that it would take her over five months to save enough money to buy the treasured necklace. Determined, she waited patiently and carefully put each of her quarters in her piggy bank.
When she finally saved enough to pay for the necklace, her father took her back to the discount store. To her delight, the pearls were still waiting. She proudly walked into the store, emerging minuets later with a small velvet pouch. “I did it, Daddy!” she exclaimed.
That night, as her father tucked her into bed, he asked, “Honey, do you love me?”
“Of course I love you,” his daughter replied.
“Do you love me enough to give me your pearl necklace?” her father questioned.
Horrified, she burst into tears. “Daddy, I love you, but I can’t give you my pearl necklace.” Her father leaned down, kissed her and told her that it was okay.
Each night for a week, the father and daughter had the same conversation. Each night, after the tearful reaction, her father kissed her just the same. Finally on Sunday night, the father heard her crying sometime after he had tucked her in.
He opened the door to her bedroom and sat down on the bed. “Daddy,” she sighed through tears, “I love you. You can have my pearl necklace.”
She pulled the small velvet pouch from under her pillow, placing it in her father’s hands. Now it was his eyes that filled with tears as he hugged her tightly. He thanked her and walked out of the room.
The next morning, when the little girl awoke, she felt something under her pillow. Almost forgetting that she’d given away her precious necklace, she reached for the velvet pouch. But in her hand grasped something sturdier.
She pulled out a small blue box and placed it in her lap. Slowly she opened it and gasped with surprise. Inside was a genuine pearl necklace. On the clasp, an inscription read, “Daddy Loves You.”
---- He’s HOT, She’s HOT by: Jeramy & Jerusha Clark

At this time in my life I am struggling with the uncomfortable issue of change. I am almost done high school, and soon will be starting a new chapter in my life. This chapter lacks a plot, and yet I know what it entails. It will consist of saying good-bye to cherished friends and embarking away from my family and everything that is familiar about home. I am not sure I want to open this chapter, I am not sure if I want to end the last one.

This is the reason that this little story hit hard. The little girl in the story worked so hard for what she had, and thought that it was the best necklace that could be offered - she did not know better. In result she held on to it for all its worth and despaired at the thought of giving it up. In the same way, I am holding on to my current situation, this is all I know and I have worked hard to be where I'm at. I am slowing starting to realise that sometimes it is necessary to give up what is comfortable and waht we cherish in order for God to bless us with better. I am learning to let go of my fake pearls... and give God the opportunity to give me the real thing.