I love it when the Spirit of God blows my mind, as He breathes life into my character with simple words through someone else. We all matter. God loves when His community of believers grow together, with authenticity.

On April 5, she paused during a meeting, looked me in the eyes, and said, “Don’t throw your pearls before swine.” I heard her. You know, the kind of hearing where time seems suspended as rainbows, stars, and love-tinged promises bathe your mind. I heard her. I heard Him. My Father spoke through her, and when later I would tell her how that the third yime that she had unknowingly profoundly affected my thought process, my outlook, and my character, she was in awe of how our Father loves His daughters.

“Don’t throw your pearls before swine.” Jesus first said those words thousands of years ago. In that moment, when she spoke those words, He was advising me to be careful with whom I shared my dreams and my vision. Not everyone has an eye for pearls of great price. I heard Him, and right there in that space, and in other spheres, some minor clouds were lifted. I saw what He needed me to see, and my heart rested.

But somehow it rested with a tinge of arrogance. Because of course, I was not “the swine”. And so He took me in hand again. One day, I expressed a thought out loud, fortunately, only to myself, and immediately felt as I imagine Peter might have felt as the rooster crowed, and his eyes met Jesus’ knowing compassionate gaze. Oh the shame. Yes child, sometimes we each are “the swine”. We don’t see the value in the person in front of us, and we therefore miss the opportunity to make connections, to build community, to show love, that could literally be world-changing.

So while you must be careful not to throw your pearls to swine, check your nose, and be sure that it’s not a snout. Love wins.