Recently there was a comment on my social media post that stopped me in my tracks. The specifics aren’t important. The specifics are hateful and cringeworthy. The specifics make me feel like I might dry heave. You can probably imagine the type of comment I’m talking about. We all get them, right? They’re usually off topic. They’re meant to hurt. Their intention is cause pain. They sting, hitting a soft spot right in the center of my heart. It’s like a punch to the gut—because it taps into an insecurity or something vulnerable. 

Why? Why would someone say something like that? I don’t know what is going on for the person who typed those ugly, hateful words. I don’t know what their hurts are or why they want to cause pain. Here’s what I do know. I know that comment has absolutely nothing to do with me. This person doesn’t know me. They don’t get to speak into my life. They don’t get to talk about my son who has a disability or the kind of mother I am or my weight or my marriage. I won’t give their ugly, hateful comments power. I won’t engage with them or defend myself or my family. When I read those comments I take a moment to catch my breath. I delete the comment then I say a little prayer, “God, I don’t know hurts or trauma that led them to a place where they wanted to inflict pain, but I pray you comfort them in their darkness. Protect my heart from this ugliness. Amen.”Then I move on. When I started this business I was grieving because our first son was born with a disability. Things felt dark and I wanted to bring light into the world. Things felt hard so I wanted to bring beauty into the world. Things felt painful so I wanted to being joy into the world. This is how we fight the darkness. We shine our light. We meet hate with love and boundaries—then we love forward. There is pain in this world.

There are cruel people in the world but there are many, many more people with beautiful, kind hearts who consistently show love and grace. I believe there is more good than bad in the world. SO MUCH GOOD. That is where I want to put my energy. That is where I want to spend my time. I want to focus on what is good and right and beautiful. Philippians 4:8 whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.This is the heart behind every piece of jewelry I design. My sincere hope is they bring light, beauty and joy into your life. I don’t know exactly what’s brought you here, but I suspect you’re a lot like me. You’re life is imperfect—sometimes dark and painful—but you’re fighting back with light and love. 

The Cross of Faith necklace is a reminder to focus on what is good and right and beautiful.

This necklace is a reminder to me to meet hate with love and light. Find it in my shop. It’s the perfect gift for yourself or a dear friend.