The Staple Collection/Still Bear My Signature

I initially wrote the blog below over a year ago but never launched it. The staples collection is one I have been so excited to share with you but just haven’t had the margin to do so. Many of you may know that I launched my dream of a brick and mortar store a couple of years ago with a dear friend and after 18 months of creative endeavors at our artisan co-op, we ended up closing our doors. While typing that now, even months after closing brings a spring of emotions, the biggest one is gratitude. I am thankful that the Alabaster Collective existed, even for just a short while. I am grateful that the Lord let me experience what I thought I always wanted and still see how that would fall short. 

In the months since closing I’ve been wrestling through what to do with Sandcastle Jewelry and my time and the things that are heavy on my heart. I’ll reveal more of what I’m up to soon but today you’re getting a glimpse of it through the Staples Collection. While each of my new collections will come with a story behind it, this one is particularly dear to my heart. This collection will be ever expanding and feature pieces that can easily be worn daily–that you might always have them with you. 

It reminded me of a verse from Matthew 26, where Jesus reminds us that “the poor will always be with you.” This collection is more than just some fun easy to wear pieces. The proceeds from this collection help fund one of my current favorite things–making meals for our local homeless shelter. My goal is to serve there once a month, but some months are tough for me with other obligations. I’m thankful for the friends I have met there and getting to see them in the community regularly. If you are local and are looking for an opportunity to serve, take a look at RISE, they’re exceptional at what they are doing to love people well and help people practically.

Without further babbling, here’s my original blog post: Still Bear My Signature

This past year my husband got me into musical artist Chris Renzema.  Stop right there and give him a follow or a listen, it's good stuff. Somewhere along the line a specific set of lyrics caught my attention from his song “How to Be Yours” they go something like this, “So love Me or hate Me, I’m not going anywhere. Leave Me or take Me, You still bear My signature”

You still bear My signature.

That line hit me in the midst of repetitive dealings with a person I find difficult. It's one of my core values, Honor (I value people because they are people and hold their stories as both precious and true.) I engraved a thick brass cuff with the lyrics as a reminder that this person I was struggling with still bears the image of God simply because I believe that humans can’t escape that.

Because I often use jewelry to serve as reminders, I have a bracelet stack that serves as current things I want to give thought to, am working on and am praying over. 

So I would begrudgingly look at that bracelet and low key roll my eyes sometimes and try to pray for eyes that could see God’s image on this person. And it’s really funny how prayer works to me.  I usually have a pretty good idea of how I want a prayer answered and I’m usually pretty clear with the Lord on what I’m going for. He rarely gives me what I ask and always gives more than I could. 

I don’t typically talk about things I’m currently working through mostly because I am an auditory processor and like to change my mind even as things are coming out of my mouth and that’s too much to put on other people, much less in writing. But as I write about this particular bracelet in my stack, I am still processing it. I probably will be for the rest of my days on earth and I think there is beauty in grace in knowing life is progress not a finish line.

I’m coming out of a hard season in a lot of side areas of life and I’ve been wearing that bracelet faithfully for a while. And what’s funny is, I had almost forgotten that there was a specific rub that made me create that bracelet in the first place! Instead of feeling frustrated with others I have found it is reminding me of an Omniscient God whose presence surrounds us at every turn. Like I said above, I’m still processing this one and probably will be for a long time to come but I’ll bullet point a few things I meditate on as I take it off and on through my days:

• Help me bear Your image faithfully.

• Help me see Your image in all the people I see every day.

• Show Yourself in the unexpected places.

• If a piece of You is imprinted on every person, knowing people who are less like me will help me see new attributes of You.

May our love for others increase. May our view of God grow. May we be aware of His image all around us. 

Xo, 

Jilli