Go Tell

The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. “Good morning!” he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, “You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.” Matthew 28:8-10 (The Message)

I talked and I talked and I talked some more. I went to the art show and for eight hours stood beside my table, talked about firing glass in a kiln, how the glass is layered, cut, draped and slumped and temperature schedules. Over and over again, I explained my craft and whenever I could, I talked about Guatemala. When a person seemed interested in my work, I opened up a little more and told them that everything I made that day would go to help the children at the Malnutrition Center. I told stories about them and explained how a measly $30 could feed a child for one month. And people bought my glass. But, not just any glass. Not the big pieces, the beautiful bowls or vases or the art in the stands. They bought the heart pendants and when the day was done, one ten dollar bill at a time, I collected $520 for the children of Guatemala. That is only $200 shy of enough support for two children for a year. Despite my aching feet, I was both surprised at the ease of my sales and disappointed that I hadn’t reached my goal when 8:00 rolled around. This morning, I got up and went after more money for the children. This time, I hosted a tea for the women of my church. I am not a girly girl. I don’t care which side of the plate the fork goes on or whether the dishes match the glasses. And I certainly don’t care if the tablecloths are ironed. But, a few months ago, while praying about how I could raise some money for the children, in addition to selling my glass, I felt God telling me to host a tea and ask the women to bring an item for the center as their admission. I argued with God a bit, but knew without a doubt it was something I was supposed to do. I gathered my friends, found fifteen women to host tables and bring dessert, more to make sandwiches, a friend to sing and another to speak, and roped my husband, son and brother-in-law into helping in the kitchen. With all that assistance, the event was a great success. We collected thirteen moving boxes full of supplies and ten large boxes of diapers. At the end of the program, I pointed out a table in the back of the room where I had put the heart pendants left from yesterday and told them to take one if they liked and leave a donation on the table for whatever amount God led them to leave. When I counted the money, I almost fell to my knees. $727 was given. It was humbling to realize that God could do way more than I ever dreamed with those little pieces of glass, and to know that I really didn’t need to market them. All I had to do was pray and step back while God brought in the sales!