Good morning…
“Parked at a local church, I found my car window shattered,” remembers my dear friend Corinne Adams. “I was distraught…until I saw the beauty of the broken glass. I knew I had to take it home. Slowly and surely, the little glass nuggets made their way into cuffs, pendants, belt buckles, rings and earrings. These unique pieces of jewelry remind me that blessings come in strange packages — that pain is often a pathway to pleasure — and that beauty is everywhere, even in brokenness.”
Corinne has gathered her one-of-a-kind creations into a collection. I love my own wide array of C-Glass treasures, purchased with great joy over the years. Rings. Necklaces. Bracelets. I actually wore one of my two happy belt buckles yesterday.
“Sue,” Corinne emailed me on Sunday morning, “we participated in the Julie’s Dream online event last night, and it was so lovely. I want to help in every possible way. So, let’s promote my C-Glass collection with our online community and give the money raised to Julie’s Dream,” she suggested. “I will just send all website jewelry sales (100% of proceeds) from now until Valentine’s Day to Julie’s Dream. Since the beginning of January, I have raised some $2000 for Children’s Healthcare, so I think it’s time to share with Julie! I will creatively package and ship the orders, then give all of the proceeds to Julie’s Dream.”
What an absolutely cool idea. One faithful friend supporting the dream of another faithful friend. I love it! Such creative gift-giving opens wide, right before my eyes, the very thin veil between earth and heaven. Losing Julie Harlan so suddenly was sad, painful, devastating for many of us, and at the same time, the contagious joy of great generosity allows our slowly healing hearts to begin to sing again.
“Bottom line — tell your readers that proceeds from all sales on the website between now and Feb. 14 will go to Julie’s Dream,” Corinne summarized before sharing a few additional thoughts. “I didn’t know Julie personally, but I taught her two precious sons in Sunday school at Northside when they were four years old…so I immediately connected with this nonprofit. You know that I’ve also worked with children in Honduras and Nicaragua on mission trips…with teens at Children’s Healthcare…and with foster kids exiting the system. So children are my passion. It’s an honor to watch Julie’s Dream invite kids to connect with nature, one of God’s greatest blessings, and to grow into his love.”
Immense gratitude for my fertile friendships with Julie and Corinne cannot be summed up in words, but this Scripture verse touches upon the immeasurable love I feel for both of these incredible women. My friend, your love has made me happy and has greatly encouraged me. It has also cheered the hearts of God’s people (Philemon 1:7, CEV).
At your leisure please touch on this link and browse Corinne’s C-Glass collection, allowing one creative Cupid to express your love on Valentine’s Day, in honor of Julie’s life-changing dream. With each unique piece of art purchased, may we each be reminded: blessings come in strange packages — pain is often a pathway to pleasure — and beauty is everywhere, even in brokenness.
…Sue…
