The Stories Behind Special Orders Make Me Smile

A friend ordered a dozen Christmas cards from me this week. Normally that’s nothing unusual because she’s one of my best and favorite customers, but this one is pretty special. And not just because I’m finally working on more Christmas cards. Yay, Christmas!

These 12 Christmas cards are going to a woman suffering with depression and anxiety. From what I understand, she doesn’t leave the house much, so these cards will be a way for her to connect with the outside world. A few hand-written lines in a handmade card can make all the difference in the lives of more than one person.

My friend also told me that she had tried to speak to this woman about God, without much success. So she asked me to put a simple Bible verse inside that could be a witnessing tool. So I chose one of my favorites: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Glory to God. What an amazing way to start a verse of Scripture. Everything else in the Bible revolves around these three little words. I pray this short but well-known verse will touch her heart and the lives of the 12 people she sends these cards to.

Stuff From Trees is about so much more than creating something out of paper or wood and having someone else like it enough to buy it. Our shop is about the people who have an interest in our work and the stories behind each purchase. All of our pieces are prayed over, that they will minister to the hearts and lives of everyone they touch. This is the best and most important part of why we do what we do.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recovering An Old Card Table And Making It Usable Again

Image
This card table recover project has been on my to-do list for months. I've been using it as my workspace in the craft room for quite some time, and it sees a lot of abuse. Here it is now, with a neutral cover on it so I can take better pictures for my tutorials. There were dents and dings in the old blue covering from metal tools. And yes, I've used my embossing heat tool on it several times, leaving pretty good scars. The padding underneath the blue cover also made it difficult to keep paper crafts flat when adhering them together, so it was time for something new. That's where a simple vinyl tablecloth comes in handy. The process to recover the table is pretty simple, but I learned a couple of lessons the hard way. I share them with you now. First, don't do this on any surface but a carpet. I tried it on the deck int he sunshine to get better pictures, but all it did was tear up the cover. Second, get a second pair of hands to help you kee
Read more

Simple DIY Beaded Keychains

Image
We're having so much fun putting together goodie bags and door prizes for our upcoming ladies retreat at the church. So many of our ladies have donated craft supplies, decorations, time and energy to treat our visitors to an amazing time. These keychains are just one of the gifts some of the attendees will find in their bags. All you need to make them are a variety of beads, some fairly thin yet sturdy cord and a jump ring. Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and string it through the jump ring. String matching beads on both sides. And tie it off with a double knot. So simple, yet so pretty. Here's another variation: Cut a length of cord, fold it in half and thread it through a jump ring. Tie one or two beads on one side and tie it off with a knot. Make the other side longer with additional letters and beads before tying it off. Make a variety of lengths, colors, patterns and phrases so no two are alike.
Read more

Debilitating Disappontment

The things of this life tend to disappoint us. People aren't who we'd like them to be, events we'd hoped for never occur and things we'd expected to happen in a certain way never come to pass. I've tried relying on everything else in this life - relationships, career, better finances. When we look to mankind for answers or for hope, we will surely be disappointed. Our own misconceptions of life's circumstances leads us down a long, dreary path. What we plan and see inside our head doesn't always match what others see, or what may actually be reality. Looking into ourselves for "clarity" directs us straight to depression and failure. Have you ever heard yourself say, "I couldn't care less" and truly meant it? Having confidence in our own power to change our outlook means that we care more about the circumstances themselves rather than how to grow as Christian women. God is the only unchanging factor in our uncertain world. Focusing on
Read more