Perhaps the most beautiful of all snails is one that is not usually thought of as being a snail. It is the queen conch, whose shell is a valued prize. You possibly have one in your home. It is marvelously shaped and beautifully colored in creamy pink, mixed with rose or tan. The wide end of the main shell is worth examining, too. It has large, star-shaped spikes circling it, followed to a point by smaller ones. And the fan-like "lip" is lovely with its pretty colors.
No one but the Lord God, the Creator of all, could design such a beautiful home for such a lowly creature. The shell is secreted from a part of the conch's body that forms calcium carbonate. The conch, however, does not need to know, how it does this, nor is it concerned: about forming its own house. The Creator has taken care of all this for it.
Many conches live off Caribbean shores where they eat plants and grasses that grow in shallow water. Their diet also includes algae secured by licking it from small rocks. Conches lie flat on the ocean floor, withdrawn into their shell, except when traveling or eating. When coming out they still remain 1:
attached to their shell. Two long antennae-like stalks appear first, with an eye on the tip of each. Beneath these stalks a snout-like mouth protrudes. Finally its "foot" touches bottom by which it pushes itself along in short hops.
The queen conch lays many eggs in long strings. About a week later little ones, called veligers, hatch already equipped with miniature shells. They swim in the ocean for about three weeks before settling to the bottom to develop mature bodies. Most will grow to be about a foot long and weigh about five pounds.
An interesting thing in the conch's life is its friendship with the little conchfish that swims right into its shell in the daytime and then leaves at night. Another resident is a small crab that clings to the conch's lip and remains there, gathering food that floats by.
The Bible tells us, "Thou [the Lord] hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11). It is not difficult for us to understand His pleasure in these creatures and the beautiful homes He has given them. But did you know He has taken pleasure in creating you, too? We know this is true because He has said, "My delights were with the sons of men." Prov. 8:3131Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:31).
It is also His desire that we find our delight in Him, the One who is so loving to us and died to save us from our sins. Have you answered the wonderful invitation of God: "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him"? Psa. 37:4,54Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:4‑5). There is no true happiness without knowing Him as your Savior.