I have a wonderful friend, named Ginny, who lost her oldest son unexpectedly at the age of 21 when he suffered a brain hemorrhage. Out of her struggle with her grief was birthed the idea of a bracelet. We designed it together and she has commissioned me (off-and-on) to make them. She felt led to create this product and run a business. But it is difficult to market something that is based on a personal loss, on dealing with grief. If you need this bracelet, you have lost something dear to you. She looked into selling the bracelets through a non-profit set-up, but that is also difficult. Most of the time she feels led to give them away to someone the Lord puts across her path that is grieving. I have been fortunate enough to be employed by her to help design them, pray over them as I make them and know that this piece of jewelry ministers in many ways to its recipients.
October marks the anniversary of Joe's death. I write this blog entry to show the work of my labor, to honor Joe at this time of year and to let it be known that these bracelets mean so much to Ginny and to those she gives/sells them to. The bracelets are sterling silver with swarovski crystals; $46 each. After Ginny prays over each one, she places it in a box with a card. The following is the message printed on the card:
My oldest son, Joseph E. Mouawad, died unexpectedly of a spontaneous brain hemorrhage on Oct. 28, 2006, he was 21. There is nothing anyone can say to comfort or erase your/my sorrow. No one can know our pain exactly except the God of our Universe. When my son died, I was catapulted into chaos. All the "whys" haven't been answered. His death cannot be reasoned out. As I stood crying one morning I glanced at a gift a friend had given me, instantly I was reminded that God cares about my tears, bottles them and keeps track of when I cry..."You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." Psalm 56:8 That gift was a bracelet similar to this one. Because I was encouraged by my gift, I intentionally created this bracelet now given to you. Each facet of this bracelet has meaning: The heart clasp symbolizes the love and concern your friend and Jesus have for you/me. The links made of Sterling Silver represent the waves of grief and sorrow we ride and manage each moment. The circle rings represent eternity and bind us together. The Clear Swarovski crystal: your tears, The Red crystal: God's love and tender care and his blood shed for You and me. I believe that God knows and because He is BIG and Good ALL the time, even when things are the worst, He cares, and because He cares, He is making good on all His promises and I shall see my son again, hug him, sing with him, and laugh with him. In Jesus is where I find my hope. "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope." Psalm 130:5 God knows our sorrow, our hurt and pain. Your/my tears are precious to Him "Jesus wept" John 11:35 for and with His friends, that included me and YOU!
Wherever you are and whatever your significant loss... He cares for YOU! How He cares for one, he cares for all. "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 This bracelet was made with you in mind and JUST for you. You have been prayed for during it's creation and I have carried this bracelet praying just for you. I pray it may bring a reminder and a supernatural comfort from the Lord Jesus The Christ. He is my Hope and my Strength! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13 God shows no favoritism what He does for me, He can do for You when You seek Him. "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jerimiah 29:13,14 I pray this bracelet may bring a ray of hope and comfort to you, as mine did for me. Your loss is difficult to manage. It is real, devastating and excruciating! Feel what you feel, it is real! There is no cycle of grief, no formula of experience, and definitely no time line! It is uniquely ours/yours, no one else has YOUR experience. Talk about your experience to those who care and if you haven't been talking to God, try Him, He has a good ear for your shouting, and your cries! He is BIG! "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
Most Lovingly,
Ginny Mouawad, Eddie's Wife and Joe, Zack, and Clint's Mom
email: JEMsAJewel@live.com
