My husband arrived home late on a Friday night after having been across the globe in India on business for two weeks. Weary from lengthy travel but excited to share his stories with us about his first trip to India, Jim dropped his heaver-than-when-he-left suitcases on the living room floor. We gathered around him, wanting to be close and quite eager to listen to his tales of adventure in an interesting country with beautiful people of a different culture. 

But before telling us his stories, he zipped open his bags with a wide smile and began pulling out gifts for me and the kids. I had insisted when he left that he just bring something home for our children. His safe and healthy arrival home would truly be gift enough for me. But enthusiasm and love got the better of his heart, and he brought us each a few carefully-chosen gifts. We were delighted.

When Jim was done showering us with treasures from India, he showed me two felt-covered jewelry boxes. “I got pearl necklaces for each of our moms. I thought they would really like them.”

He bought pearls. For my mom.

You see, my mom is now in her 80s, is courageously facing age-related illnesses everyday and has lived in a faith-based elder care facility since September 2013. Though she is content there and faces each new day with anchored hope and bright smiles, my sweet mom doesn’t leave the facility unless she is being transported by an ambulance to a doctor’s appointment or to the hospital. She doesn’t get dressed up any more, rather she wears comfortable clothing that facilitates easy transfers from bed to toilet to wheelchair. My mom can’t attend fancy social celebrations, and her calendar only offers her the daily geriatric activities her new home provides. She has nowhere special to go for dinner…she eats in the same dining room every evening, at the same table, looking out the same window. 

And my husband bought her pearls.

He bought her pearls.

Oh how this touches my heart so deeply.

It matters not to Jim that my mom is an aging octogenarian or that she has no place fancy to wear the pretty pearl necklace.

He values my mom. He bought her pearls.

He doesn’t see age or illness. He sees the beauty of a mature woman who has abode in the Lord for decades and whose zest for life is unceasing.

He values my mom. He bought her pearls.

He doesn’t care that she has nowhere fancy to go. He cared enough to know her still-sparkly blue eyes would light up even more when she received the carefully-strung fresh-water pearls.

He values my mom. He bought her pearls.

Jim’s intrinsic love for my mom reflects the heart of God. The Pearl of Great Price loves precious people of every age who are seeking Him.

God knows the value of the aged.

“They still bear fruit in old age…”
Psalm 92:14

God knows the value of a life that has persevered in the faith.

“Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is attained in a righteous life.”
Proverbs 16:3

God values the wisdom and understanding that reside in the hearts of the aged.

“Wisdom is with the aged,
and understanding in length of days.”
Job 12:12

God knows the value of old age and cares perfectly for the aged.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs,
I am He, I am He who will sustain you.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4

Jim bought my mom pearls. 

So she will put those pretty pearls on her beautifully-weathered neck. And she will wear them to Sunday chapel, to Monday bingo, to Tuesday hair salon appointment, to Wednesday wheelchair exercise class, to Thursday crossword puzzles, to Friday hymn histories and to Saturday sing-a-long. And she will wear them to dinner every evening in the same dining room, at the same table, looking out the same window. 

And she will remember she is valued. By Jim. By her family. By God.