As a child, I remember the fun of counting cars and looking for the end of the train. Finally, I could see the little red caboose in the distance and I knew the wait was almost over. As I grew older, the sight of the smaller red car was a welcomed relief. I was tired of waiting for the train to pass. Life hands us trials and many times we wonder, where is the caboose? Is there an end to my problem? If you have noticed lately, there are few cabooses left in existence.
Have you ever waited for your caboose or the end of a trial or problem to appear? The end just seems to be nowhere in sight. You just want “it” to stop. You pray that things will be over fast so you can get your life back on track.
In my book, “Bury Me With My Pearls” I discuss the value of the dark pearl or those seemingly never-ending troubles.
Don’t ask God to get rid of your problems, and don’t merely tolerate them. Welcome them as gifts and you will find God’s way through them. View your problems as the next steps to growth for you.[1] Dr. Henry Cloud
We all dread those times when a dark pearl is added to our strand of beautiful creamy white pearls. We don’t want to put that particular pearl on our priceless strand, but ironically it can become the most valuable one of all. Its value depends on how we use and display it. It can be a treasure or a tragedy. Our dark pearl may be produced by a variety of irritants: the death of a loved one, illness, betrayal, divorce, unfair treatment, abuse, or financial ruin. Only one out of every ten thousand pearls becomes a dark pearl, so its price is steep. Will we find value in this rare treasure or will we allow it to devalue our life? It all depends on how we handle that dark period in our lives.
Dr. Cloud’s words helped me through some of the most painful years of my life. Actually, my book, “Bury Me With My Pearls” is based on chapter six entitled, “Dark Pearls.” Although my book is humorous, I wanted to share this difficult time in my life.
I hope this excerpt will help give hope and meaning to you in your difficult times. Remember, just like a train traveling before you, this too shall pass. Even though you cannot see it, there is a caboose, an end is near. Is there someone in your life that needs to know the caboose is right around the corner? Like this post on Facebook to share it with your friends.
About Jane-
Humorist, Amazon “Best-Selling” author and professional singer, Jane Jenkins Herlong, CSP finds the funny in dysfunction while entertaining with her comedy and singing heard on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and Pandora. Jane helps audiences confront negativity with grace and humor to increase performance and productivity as she did overcoming being labeled Dyslexic and other challenges. From the tomato fields of Johns Island, South Carolina to a Miss America runway and beyond, Jane’s funny original, Southern stories and award-winning singing helps audiences learn life-skills and the healing power of laughter when dealing with stressful issues thrown at their field of dreams. You will love this farm-girl’s Southern-style recipe for balancing your own personal journey with a sense of humor, hope and heaping helping of folksy wisdom.
Along with entertaining audiences from coast to coast, Jane has performed at the legendary Radio City Music Hall sharing the stage with well-known personalities such as; Colin Powell, Rudolph Giuliana, Charles Stanley and the late Charlton Heston. Not bad for a Lowcountry farm girl! As a humorist, author, parody writer and recording artist, Jane’s products and digital downloads are featured Amazon and iTunes.
www.janeherlong.com
