Make a Pearl

"The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. 

Irritations get into his shell...

When he cannot get rid of them, 

he uses the irritations to do 

the loveliest thing an oyster ever has a chance to do. 

If there are irritations in our lives today, 

there is only one prescription: 

make a pearl. 

It may have to be a pearl of patience, 

but anyhow, make a pearl. 

And it takes faith and love to do it."

Harry Emerson Fosdick