Editor, the Advocate:

The following really happened to me a few months ago. I felt that it was very encouraging and might encourage others as well.

One day as I was walking along the beach, a beautiful sea shell caught my eye. I bent down and picked it up. To my dismay the part that was buried in the sand was broken and jagged. I said, "Oh Lord, it looked so pretty!"

The Lord spoke to my heart and said, "I know; I see deeper." I was about to toss the shell down when the Lord told me, "Put the shell back the opposite way of how you found it." So I half-buried it in the sand, with the broken part showing. Then I said, "Lord, the beauty is hidden."

And the Lord said, " I know; I see deeper." At that moment, I knew that He was not talking about seashells.

Lisa Celeste, Goliad