Worth forged through pain

Original painting by Kirsten Kirsty Emmanuel Dyck

The meaning behind this painting, 

Life's event can often affect how we see ourselves.  A few years back, I was working through some very painful childhood memories and those memories had caused me to feel utterly worthless. It was not because of my actions, but those of others.  

Then I had a strange dream that I honestly believe was heaven sent! In my dream I saw an awful infected wound on my face. I hid my face in shame so no one would see it.  Then that wound produced a shimmering purple pearl. It was so beautiful and it reflected the light  I thought, how could something so pretty come out of something so awful. Then in my dream I heard God speaking to me as if he stood next to me.  He said, You hide your face in shame, hiding the wounds of the world. But I have used them to form you into a pearl of great worth. 

I awoke from that dream and knew I needed to paint that pearl. I depicted it in the mud, to represent the ugliness that it came from. I painted a butterfly as a reminder that I am in process of being transformed by God.  My worth is not set by the things I have gone through, rather I am precious to God and he is making me into something beautiful that can reflect his light into the darkness.

After I awoke, I felt like one of the lesson's being impressed upon my heart, was to stop hiding my testimony in shame.  Hopefully my story helps someone else as they are being transformed into beauty.

I later looked up purple pearls and learned that they are rare and especially valuable.  I love how God uses all sorts of ways to bring about healing and restoration in our lives.