Beaded Hope – 30 days of giving

Christmas is coming up and I want to tell you about a precious non-profit organization  and a great cause – Beaded Hope! 

I found out about this organization when I read  and reviewed the book, Beaded Hope written by Cathy Liggett, published by Tyndale Publishing. 
I was amazed about how many ladies are affected by AIDS in South Africa and how many children are constantly being left with no parents to raise themselves.  I can’t imagine my 11 year old being left to raise his siblings.
This organization helps to provide work for those ladies who are being affected by such a horrible disease.  All things that are available are made by the ladies in South Africa and proceeds go to help them!

This is their mission: 
Beaded Hope’s mission is to fight HIV/AIDS one person at a time by providing South Africans with the opportunity to earn an income, support their families and nurture their creativity while preserving age-old beadworking traditions.

This past August, I met and had dinner with Jennifer Davis, the founder of Beaded Hope in Cincinnati, Ohio.  What a delight!  God is using her in such a mighty way to change family trees!  She is making a global impact!
I am not in any way making anything from this post!  It is honor for me to share with you an opportunity to help others and to give something that will change and save lives!  I want my own children to be givers.  I want them to grow up and be able to say “things of this world are not as are important as people.” 
This is not to say I’m going to quit blessing my children with gifts – I hope to make this clear…it is not about worldly goods but more the meaning of a gift and the one who gives and sometimes the receiver as well. 
If you give me a gift (even though I might like it) but it is out of obligation instead of a caring, love or desire for me to be genuine happy then I really don’t want it.   (Although, I will take the all expense trip to Timbuktu and not bat an eye.  I CAN pretend you wanted to give it to me.)  But, seriously –  I would much rather have a gift that has meaning and that comes from a gracious giver.
Can you imagine the Lord giving a gift – just because He had to instead of with love?  That truly would break my heart.
So, if you are still looking for that perfect Christmas present with true meaning…Beaded Hope has plenty of “handmade” jewelry, ornaments, or even bookmarks plus much more.
Here is a couple things on my “Wish List” if I had a “Wish List”:

This one is only $24.00.  It would go perfect with that little black dress.