MamaArcher's Blog

The Wrangell Garnet

Along our ferry trip, we made several port calls. We only ventured onto land twice though. Our entire family left the ship to go into Ketchican, Alaska. Then my hubby took a few of the older children ashore in Wrangell, Alaska. In Wrangell the Presbyterian church owns a parcel of land, the Garnet Mine, that is full of garnets. These church gave the town access to this land and the garnets with the condition that all proceeds went to benefit the children of Wrangell. Due to this, when you enter into Wrangell from the ferry there are children selling garnets. The children can dig, clean, and sell them to tourists. My husband blessed me by purchasing one for me. The garnet he purchased is still on a small piece rock. I have thought often on this little treasure that we picked up on your travels. The garnet is pretty yet still partially set in the stone. It is a reminder of myself. I strive to be that ruby, that jewel among jewels, something pleasing, precious, and glorifying to God. Most jewels are formed by time and pressure. This is the same in our spiritual lives as well. Over time walking with the Lord and working with him through the pressures and trials in our lives is what turns us into the jewels that he desires to transform us into being. The jewels are still stuck in stone however. This is a reminder that not only do I need to trust and lean upon the Lord but I must also allow him to chip away at the stones of sin in my life. This is a painful process but a necessary one.