​How Does This Stone Teach Us to Be Merciful?

While my hands were working today on polishing a piece of Yemeni Agate, and my eyes were contemplating the beauty of the colors and the details of the veins that the Creator placed within this inanimate stone, my soul wandered far away...

​I have learned from the craft of polishing Yemeni Agate that beauty does not lie merely on the surface. Polishing is not just a profession; it is a lesson in gentleness. The hand that presses too hard on the stone may break it, and the hand that is too loose will not reveal its luster. Such are our souls; they require gentleness in interaction, honesty in dealing, and patience with the fluctuations of time.

Agate has taught me that the hardness we see in people is often just a veil covering their inner essence. Every heart—no matter how hardened or discouraged—holds within it a beauty waiting for a merciful and faithful hand to reveal it.

At the end of my day, I set the agate aside and reflect, thanking God for making my work a constant reminder that we all go through stages of polishing and shaping. May our kindness toward others be the luster we leave behind in this world.

Wishing you all the best.