Wednesday, June 20, 2012

When Beauty is Humbling


A few months ago, I enjoyed reading Kisses From Katie and was so inspired by this one young woman and all that she is undertaking for the Kingdom! 

One of the things she has gotten in place is that some of the local women are making jewelery and the money earned helps feed children plus employ a hard-working mother. 
That is beauty.

At the time, all the jewelery was sold out and I've checked several times since then. 
What a terrific "problem" {blessing!} to have! 
I checked again recently and there were some bracelets ~ so I hurried to order one for myself and a few for gifts. What a gift of beauty to be able to give to two at once - first to the one who made it, second to the one who receives it. A win-win.

{note: thanks to my mom for pointing out that you can put your e-mail address in to receive notification when jewelry is in stock again}

Mine came quickly and packaged so beautifully - truly a lovely gift.



 This colorful beauty got me to thinking and thinking deep.
What are the lives like of the dear women who made this beauty for me to enjoy?
What kind of beauty is available for them?

Perhaps some of the beauty for them is being given purpose, opportunity to create, to have work, to create beauty for others. 

Those of you who are beauty-seekers and beauty-lovers like me know there is a real beauty in making beauty for others.

Yet, it humbles me to feel the weight of the beads on my wrist and realize how very rich I really am.
The many colors go with everything and isn't that just like beauty? It goes with everything?
Every season, every mood, every situation - beauty lifts the heart if even for a moment.

I want to picture the dark ebony fingers that have carefully touched these beads before I did. 
To see the face of the one who envisioned this beauty before it came to be and helped to make it a reality. My heart swells with the idea of what it would be like to bring beauty to her life. 
So I remember that in the only way I can, I have.

 I love and appreciate and will enjoy her beauty.

That, is the true gift of beauty to the one who makes beauty. 
Let her make it, love it for her, appreciate it for her and enjoy it for her ~ for in seeing these things, the beauty begins to multiply.



I mentioned above the word humbled.
Speaking of humble, this is something God is working on in me right now. I've had a long-standing struggle with pride - yet I see the beauty in broken-ness and humility. 
I don't want a false humility or even a humility that I realize ~ but a God-given humble spirit.
It's something I'm asking Him for right now.

Has beauty ever humbled you?
What are you asking God to do in your heart right now?

PS: I just got a message yesterday that there is a small stock in the Amazina store right now if any of you are interested!

9 comments:

Mom said...

Beautiful bracelets -- beautiful thoughts -- thanks for sharing! Love you, Mom

*carrie* said...

Very cool, Monica. I of course was challenged by that books as well. I had not looked into these bracelets, but I was able to recently purchase some locally from a group that does something similar in Haiti.

Nancy at EmbroideryIt.com said...

Thanks Monica, that will be a perfect gift that I need to give a friend.

Ami said...

I read this book a few weeks ago and cried through most of it. The circumstances she described and analogies she used illustrating the gospel made a deep impression on me.
My husband and I have been reading lots of books like Crazy Love, 7, and Radical lately...not to mention a fresh look at the New Testament. God is moving us out of the typical American Christianity. Not sure what life will look like, but mainly we pray to know and love God more and for our eyes to be open to ways we can pour out God's love to others.

Heather's Blog-o-rama said...

Oh, I have one of these necklaces from Amazima ministries...so cool :) :) Yes, it's beautiful and humbling and encouraging all at the same time ;) :) Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)

Tim and Susan said...

I have a necklace too! A gift from my sister. We are SO blessed, praying for those precious woman making beauty.
Susan

angie said...

I read Katie's book a while back. I think it merits a re-read, which is a rarity for me.
I just checked the jewelry supply and they have 2 necklaces in stock. I asked to be notified when there are bracelets in stock.
Thank you for sharing the beauty of your purchase and the blessing that this ministry provides to the women in Uganda.

Grace said...

Now that is a beautiful bracelet!! Love all those colors!

Kathryn D. Duke said...

enjoyed catching up on your blog postings...
the wedding was so special and I loved the MR & Mrs corn hole game...

Have a happy fourth with your family.
Kathy