Tuesday Night, December 7th, 2021. Pearl Harbor Day. 11:51 PM.
Gretchen and the Pearl of Great Value
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” -Revelation 21:21-27. ESV Study Bible.
Zager & Evans – In the Year 2525
Chapter One
This story is a mixture of reality and imaginings.
It was inspired by someone who texted me and we corresponded that way for a few weeks.
We are not texting anymore. She told me her first name was Michelle. And, later on, when I saw her nickname in another app was Gretch, I asked her if her real name was Gretchen. At first she said yes; then she said it was her middle name. The correspondence became difficult and very upsetting. In my anger, a story came to mind that I’ve been writing for several days, now. Today is Tuesday, December 7, 2021. It is Pearl Harbor Day in the USA commemorating the historic event of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii being attacked and many lives lost – both military and civilian lives — in 1941. That was ten years before I was born. I am thankful to God that I was born after that great war ended. My childhood happened during a time of peace in the United States of America. My dad was in the Army-Air Corp. He was a pilot. I’m thankful he survived the war. He was fortunate, too. He said that the war was winding down by the time he was ready for combat. His rank was Flight Officer – which was equivalent to lieutenant.
Introducing Gretchen
The name Gretchen means pearl
In the name pearl is the word earl
According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th Edition:
Earl means: warrior, nobleman . . .
Gretchen was destined to meet a noble man . . . but only after a time of great trouble in her early life.
In her childhood, Gretchen went to St. Charles School. That fact about Gretchen is imaginary.
It was at the corner of Daniels Street and Earle Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Actually, this writer is the one who went to St. Charles School at the corner of Earle and Daniels Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. There was no Gretchen in my class.
The name Rhode means rose.
The Rose
The writer is imagining a certain lady now. Her last name was Ambrose.
There is a rose in her name. Roses in reality have thorns. Thorns can hurt. They may not kill you but they can cause pain.
And he is imagining her reading this and thinking:
“That does not belong in this story, Mark. And you shouldn’t be writing about me.”
Well, I changed your name to Erin Deborah Ambrose for that very reason. This story is about Gretchen anyway – not Erin Deborah Ambrose. And it was actually inspired by someone who was texting me recently whose name is . . . well, I guess I shouldn’t write her name, either. And the name she gave me may not be her real name. And she told me that Nicole Jackson gave my number to her. And I seriously wonder if that name, Nicole’s name, is her real name. And they sent pictures of themselves – and I wonder if those pictures are actually their pictures.
Erin: “Well, if you suspect them of being scammers and fraudsters, Mark, why not just have nothing to do with them?”
Mark: “Well, it’s . . . maybe like Frank and Joe Hardy.”
Erin: “What do you mean by that, Mark?”
Mark: “Well, it’s kind of fun — while also being difficult and frustrating and very aggravating, too. Sort of like being a detective must be. It gives me something to think about and wonder about – just like a job can be interesting and challenging.”
Erin: “Mark, how do you get mixed up with people online and texting who don’t even use their real names?”
Mark: “Well, it seems that they are the only ones who are interested in corresponding with me. You keep sending my letters back to me, unopened, Erin.”
Erin: “And what happens in these correspondences that you have with people who, maybe, only use fictitious names and pictures?”
Mark: “Well, it eventually comes down to them wanting “help” with donations for food and medicine and pads; and for repairing their broken phones and computer mice.”
Erin: “Do you really believe that?”
Mark: “I just can’t be sure. I don’t know.”
Erin: “Then why don’t you just leave them alone?”
Mark: “If I do that, then I won’t have anyone to correspond with. Erin, sometimes in Life, things are where they don’t seem to belong.
And there may be a God-given reason for that – a reason that those who walk by sight rather than by faith cannot appreciate – a reason that those who trust in themselves and in their own thoughts rather than trusting in True God and His Will – cannot fathom.
God’s Way is not man’s way.
Don’t be thinking that you know something when you really don’t know anything as you ought to know.
We must throw out knowing and get into believing. And those who think that is being naive may be in error because they don’t know the Scriptures nor the power of God. And then, they trust in themselves rather than trusting in God by faith.
That is God’s Way for us to get out of the wicked world system and into his kingdom –
The Kingdom of God
By His Grace – through faith in his Son, the Savior of the world.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” -Hebrews 11:6, 7. ESV Study Bible.
Hebrews 11
The world loves darkness.
Christ is the Light of the world
And the worldly ones hate the Light of the world.
For it exposes all their wicked deeds which they love to do in their wicked hearts of unbelief.
Now, if you will forgive me Erin, I must get back to Gretchen.
An Interlude for a moment to rest from all this seriousness for a while . . .
And by the way, Linda, you’re in this, too:
I remember your husband’s name is Earle.
Get Back (Remastered 2009)
The idea of getting back has to do with returning.
And returning has to do with repentance.
And now I’m thinking of a certain Bonnie whose last name is Turner.
TURN! TURN! TURN! (Lyrics) – THE BYRDS
OK, now that we’ve had our little interlude, let’s get back to Gretchen, shall we?
Gretchen had a very difficult beginning to her life. And that difficulty imbittered her young heart.
She liked to put a hurt on her neighbors. It just satisfied her bitter heart to hurt them.
She was very clever, though. She didn’t want to get into trouble by doing outwardly evil deeds; so, she found a way to hurt her neighbors by acts of omission – rather than directly hurting them – by acts of commission.
She would sit on the sidewalk dressed as a poor little thing and ask for help because she had no food; or she was in pain and couldn’t afford the medicine. Her kind neighbors would give her money to help her. But, Gretchen would not respond in kind to her kind neighbors. The next day she would be sitting on the sidewalk again enjoying a bowl of ice cream she bought with their money; and her neighbors would come walking by her. They would smile and say Hi to Gretchen; but Gretchen just ignored them and put another loving spoonful of ice cream in her mouth and paid them no mind. Her neighbors wondered what was the matter with Gretchen. Some would stop and ask her, “Gretchen, how are you?” Gretchen would not say a word in reply.
The Little Drummer Boy
The Little Drummer Boy 1968
Another Interlude from such serious stuff . . .
The Earl of Sandwich
Who is the Earl of Sandwich?
I think he is credited with inventing the sandwich.
Are you kidding me?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandwich
Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Hearts of Men? This question has nothing to do with Earl; so I hope Linda want be silent toward me for mentioning her and her husband, Earl.
The Shadow Knows
This mentioning of The Shadow – which was a radio program in, I think, the 1940s – is a prelude to something that will be seen later in this story. It hasn’t been written yet; but, it may horrify some tended-hearted readers when it is described what happened to little Gretchen in her childhood.
And in the name Earle is the word ear . .
“Now, listen my children and you shall hear . . . “
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Liberty’s Kids 105 – The Midnight Ride
In a word there are other words – As Erica is in the name America
And Eric in the name Erica
Maybe the name of the lady of The Statue of Liberty is Erica, or Lady Erica
Erica means Ever Powerful
And Eric means Princely
And Pearl means tearful.
And in the expression “On the face of the earth” there is the question:
What is behind and below and within “the face of the earth”?
Those who live on the face of the earth are only in the shallows.
They have no depth within themselves.
They are not rooted in the Earth.
Or, maybe they are very wise and know better than to seek to know deep things.
Remember what happened to Adam & Eve after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Maybe it’s better not to know too much – or anything at all.
Remember Sargent Schultz in Hogan’s Heroes: he often said with much intensity:
“I know nothing . . . I know n-o-t-h-i-n-g!!!”
And other times, he said equally intensely, “I see N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!!”
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” -Luke 21:34-36. ESV Study Bible.
Maybe we should seek a happy medium between deep and shallow.
Maybe that’s what Goldilocks was practicing in her life as a little girl while walking to the house of the three bears . . .
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
https://americanliterature.com/childrens-stories/goldilocks-and-the-three-bears
Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper – Shallow (Lyrics) (A Star Is Born Soundtrack)
Getting back to Gretchen again:
She asked her mother to call her Gretch; but, her mother called her Wretch, instead. It really galled little Gretchen. It made her little heart seethe like a volcano beginning to rumble. She began having the most evil thoughts toward her parents. Her mom would say to her:
“Hey Wretch, get over here. You see this dirty toilet bowl? I want you to get on your knees, girl — and scrub it – and keep on scrubbing it till I tell you to stop! You got that girl? Now get goin’!”
And, “Hey Wretch! I want you to go to the store for me, Right now! And then get right back here – quick as you can. You hear me, girl?”
So, little Gretchen would do exactly what her mom told her to do – in fear for her mortal life, she did as her mom commanded her. Well, Gretchen would go to bed at night and as she lay there waiting for sleep, the most vile thoughts would come into her mind toward her mother. She saw the movie: The Wizard of Oz — and when the witch appeared, little Gretchen thought: That’s just how my mother is! Oh my god, am I going to grow up and be just like her? And Gretchen noticed that when the wicked witch died all her little munchkins suddenly began to celebrate with joy. They didn’t like their leader, either – just as Gretchen didn’t like her own mother. As time went on, Gretchen couldn’t keep her evil thoughts to herself anymore. She began saying nasty things to her mom. And her mom was so offended by Gretchen’s evil words that she became afraid she was going to kill Gretchen and go to jail for murder; so, she and her husband packed up little Gretchen and brought her to town – and right there on Main Street — late at night — they deposited her all alone on the sidewalk – and deserted her there. And they moved out of state and maybe out of the country. And so, little Gretchen was left all by herself. She went into the alcove of a dark store front and hid there all night – hoping no bad man would find her there all by herself and take her away with him. She could not sleep all night because she was shivering uncontrollably in the cold air of early December.
10-Year-Old Peter Rosalita SHOCKS The Judges With “All By Myself” – America’s Got Talent 2021
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” -Psalm 34:19-22. ESV Study Bible.
Behold! God’s Word is True!
I’ll show you, sayeth the LORD God Almighty!
By My Holy Spirit I will show you!
In the name of my Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” -Mark 1:14, 15. ESV Study Bible.
The Three Crosses
Meredith Andrews – Spirit Of The Living God (Official Lyric Video)
Amazing Grace – Rhema 7yr old Gospel singer plz “Share”
8 yr old Rhema sings Hallelujah..heart stopping..she gets into it at 2:17 secs. – share
Maybe you may imagine this writer as Forest Gump’s little brother
Maybe his name is marky maypo or marky maybe or maybe mark
Or, maybe just maybe
Maybe he doesn’t even know who or what he is
Maybe that hasn’t been determined yet –
Like on the first day of May . . .
Who knows what will unfold during the coming days?
The Merry Merry Month of May – Nelson Eddy
Evergreen – Susan Jacks HD
Chapter Two — which has not been written yet – may, hopefully, reveal more about what happened to little Gretchen – both before she was deserted — and after that cold shivering sleepless night she suffered all by herself in that dark alcove on Main Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Chapter 2 of Gretchen’s Story
December 9, 2021
Gretchen spent the next day all by herself wandering the downtown section of Main Street. She was so ashamed of her situation – her parents having deserted her; and being unwashed and cold and hungry. The simmering volcano of anger toward her mother was quieting down. She was feeling very lowly. And in place of her anger was something she had never felt before: deep sorrow.
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” -2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV Study Bible.
She was also hungry and thirsty. And yet, she could not even look into the eyes of the passersby on Main Street. She was also feeling anxious about the coming night – fearful that she would be spending another night hiding out in the alcove of the vacant McCarthy’s Department Store near Depot Square. She had to keep turning her thoughts away from the ominous and dreadful feelings in her lonely heart. It grew dark early in December and by 5 o’clock the street was empty. She returned to the alcove and sat down on the dusty, cold and hard floor where in days past many Christmas shoppers had walked into and out of McCarthy’s buying gifts for friends and neighbors and moms and dads and brothers and sisters. At about 7 o’clock the scene began to change. Across the big intersection of Depot Square, Gretchen could see some activity at the old train station. Mothers and their children began forming a line; and a Santa Claus was sitting in a big sleigh at the top of a little stairway. Gretchen watched as the children climbed the steps and were talking with Santa. Gretchen began to wonder if that Santa could help her. She began to shiver again in the cold night air. After about 2 hours the line of children began to dwindle down. Gretchen got up and crossed the huge intersection. She didn’t know what she might say to Santa; she just had this feeling in her heart that was drawing her to him. By the time she reached the bottom of the staircase the line of children was all gone. And Santa was sitting there all by himself. This lonely scene actually comforted Gretchen. She wanted to be alone with Santa so she could, maybe, confide in him about her situation; however, she realized she could not walk up those steps. She could only stand there looking at the face of Santa in perfect silence. Santa motioned with his hand to Gretchen to come. She could not move. So, Santa, finally stood up and walked down the steps to cold and shivering Gretchen. Santa was a big man. He realized how he must look towering over little Gretchen; so, he lowered himself by getting down on one knee; and he asked Gretchen what Santa might do for her. She could not speak. She only looked into Santa’s face and then into his eyes. Gretchen noticed that Santa’s eyes looked moist and then tearful; and then tears began coming down Santa’s cheeks. And then, Gretchen just put her arms around Santa’s neck and hugged him; So, Santa, then put his arms around Gretchen and held her in his big, strong arms. And Gretchen felt the warmth of Santa’s embrace. And it felt so good and comforting to her that she didn’t ever want to stop holding him and him holding her. And Gretchen began to cry.
“PRETTY PAPER” – Roy Orbison (Original version)
For Gretchen . . . God Will Make a Way
God Will Make a Way (with lyrics) – Don Moen
Are You Born Again?
The Miracle Of Christmas
Erin Deborah Ambrose: “Mark, what about the pearl of great value? Did you forget about that? It’s the title of your story. What is the connection between Gretchen and that pearl? Where is that pearl?”
Mark: “Thank you, Erin, for reminding me about that. I was forgetting about it. Well, Jesus spoke a parable about a pearl. He said this: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” -Matthew 13:44-46. ESV Study Bible.
Erin: “I still don’t understand what that has to do with Gretchen.”
Mark: “Well, Erin, pearls are formed in an oyster. And it takes a long time for the oyster to make that pearl form out of a grain of sand, I’ve heard. So, perhaps, if Gretchen accepts the gospel of Jesus Christ and believes it and becomes a believer on our Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior — as the gospel teaches us — then He and His Holy Spirit will come into her heart and live with her and comfort her and counsel her and teach her every day of her new life in Christ; and she will grow up in Him and He in her — until she attains to the full stature of Christ in her – the hope of glory – just as the Scriptures tell us who truly believe in True God by faith in the Scriptures and faith in the Son of God and faith in his Heavenly Father by His indwelling Holy Spirit.”
Erin: “Can you show me some supporting Scriptures concerning these things you’re telling me; so, I can have some assurance that what you’re writing is based on God’s Word — and not merely your imagination?”
Mark: “Yes, Erin.”
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this we toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” -Colossians 1:27-29. ESV Study Bible.
Ephesians 4:13
2 Peter 1
Matthew 13
Key words: “rescue; darkness”
Ephesians 4
2 Peter 1-3
1 Peter 1-5
Matthew 13
Mark's Imaginings 
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