COME FORTH AS GOLD - the 10 year anniversary of Milk Velvet Pearls
I began making pearl jewelry in 2014 after I had the epiphany that my life was like a pearl ~ made beautiful by struggle through faith. And since I opened my little Etsy shop on Mother's Day of that year, I have made well over a thousand pieces of jewelry and have shipped to customers in 38 U.S. states, as well as the U.K., Germany, Australia, Kenya, Uruguay, Bolivia and Kenya.
It turns out the Christian birth story of transformation, and new life by faith is one that many of us share. And, it has been an honor for me to be alongside you, hearing your stories.
What began as an outward mission to share my discovery of God in the hopes of helping others, quickly turned into an inside job to help me. I wore pearls to remind myself to persevere with faith, and I made jewelry to steady myself, and as a tangible form of prayer. I believe that God knew that I needed responsibility, and accountability to others to grow my faith. Through shared stories with my faith-filled customers, He gave me the support of an army of women, and they helped me through the trials that unfolded. From discovering and working through my son's opioid addiction, to suffering and recovering from my life-threatening brain aneurysm rupture and stroke - God used Milk Velvet Pearls and His people to minister to me, lead me, and teach me. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO WERE THERE. You know who you are.
Had I not suffered, faithfully, for so long, I wouldn't have come to the end of myself and discovered that I have access to unimaginable peace and power. I wouldn't have learned that I can live fearlessly all the rest of the days of my life. Because Jesus.
To celebrate, I've designed a new necklace entitled "Come Forth as Gold" based on the verse in Job, which I believe beautifully illustrates my journey this past decade.
"But he knows the way that I take. When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)
and......
"The person whose faith has been severely tested yet who has come through the battle victoriously is the person to whom even greater tests will come. The finest jewels are the most carefully cut and polished, and the most precious metals are put through the hottest fires." - STREAMS IN THE DESERT, 366 Daily Devotional Readings, May 9
I am going into the next decade of Milk Velvet Pearls with a bigger vision, and hoping to share God's power with more people. I am still working on my memoir "The Making of A Pearl" and hoping to have it in bookstores this fall. I hope you'll stay tuned.
OUR FAITH CAN BE TRUSTED. God's word proves true.
In love,
Sarah
