Fast forward to this summer. I've been following Jen Hatmaker on Facebook and Instagram for several years after reading her book "7". Jen has posted several times in the past about Noonday Collection, a fun line of fair trade jewelry hailing from Austin, Texas. Though I've seen and drooled a little over a few pieces of their jewelry, I honestly just hadn't given it more than a passing glance. In June I started reading a little more about what Noonday actually stood for and what their mission was. And just like that, I fell in love.
I began college as a Music major. I quickly changed to a Christian Ministry major and within a few semesters made my final change and graduated as a Psychology major with a Christian Ministry minor. Through the changes in classes, the one thing that remained constant was that I somehow, in some way, wanted to help people. During an internship with a local crisis pregnancy center, my heart was completely broken and changed by the opportunities to help women as they faced an unplanned pregnancy. After graduation and getting married, while my husband was in seminary, I worked as Director of Counseling in a pregnancy center educating girls about their roles and responsibilities as moms and teaching them to care for and love their babies, and many times supporting them through unplanned teen pregnancies.
When we started having our own kiddos (three kids in four and a half years!), my full-time job title quickly became "Mom". It is, and always certainly will be, my most important job, but as I plod through days filled with spelling tests, soccer practices, baking bread, menu planning, and mountains of laundry, it has been all too easy to forget that there are moms who have to put their children to bed hungry and face the reality that the dreams and hopes they have for their children may never ever come to pass.
As I took the time to look past the fun jewelry Noonday showcases (particularly the Sonrisa and Shine necklaces ❤️) and read more about the beginnings of this company, their heart and purpose, I was so totally compelled to join in.
Noonday Collection uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world. Noonday creates a marketplace for artisans in vulnerable communities, giving them dignified jobs and creating a growing marketplace for their goods. In addition, Noonday is a huge supporter of adoption, raising over $100,000 for more than 1600 adoptive families in just the last few years. The mission of Noonday rang deep in my heart and after just a couple days of thinking and talking it over with my husband, I signed on as a Noonday Collection Ambassador.
As I read more and listen more and connect more with other Ambassador ladies on this journey, my heart is softening more and my eyes are being opened wide to a cause that is so beautiful. What began weeks ago as an opportunity to support these artisans and help them make a living wage, while getting to dress up in some fantastic jewelry, has quickly become so much more to me.
As I read the stories of mothers in Ethiopia separated from their children because of the stigma that comes with an HIV+ diagnosis my heart hurts. As I think about mamas in Uganda having to face the thought of placing their children in an orphanage because there isn't enough money to keep them fed, my heart breaks. I'm a mama too, and I'm daily more aware of the fact that it is only by God's grace that I have not had to face similar circumstances in my own life.
Without question there is a great amount of priveledge that comes with being born into a middle class American family. Life always comes with difficulties, but few of us have ever had to struggle to see that our basic needs were met. Our children are growing up in a world that puts such a strong emphasis on having "things" and seeking our own comfort and entertainment above all else, and it's too easy for us to forget the desperation others are facing daily.
As God is beginning to work in my heart, fill me with compassion, and allow me to see the others through His eyes, I am daily growing more and more excited about the opportunity I have to support vulnerable families and cherish children through Noonday.
Two weeks ago I hosted my Noonday Collection launch show. Some of my favorite ladies gathered in my living room, ate cupcakes and drank coffee, and listened while I shared my heart and the heart of Noonday.
I cried a good bit. We laughed and tried on some beautiful jewelry and enjoyed each other's company. I hope that each of their hearts was pricked by the stories I shared and that our hearts will continue to break so that we can learn to cherish and love those in need in bold ways. I am looking forward to what God will do through Noonday Collection and I am so excited to be a part of it.
As I look at my two chunky $1 flea market necklaces today, all I can think of is the little girls I imagine made those necklaces in some scary, filthy factory half a world away and how little (if at all) they were paid for their work. Little girls like the two I have who ask for me to put their hair in pigtails and love watching Little House On the Prairie and whose greatest concern most days is which one will get the beloved "pink bowl" at breakfast.
I look forward to sharing more about Noonday Collection and pray that God will give me many opportunities to platform the women and children who are so greatly benefiting from the purchases made through Noonday.
For now, if you'd like to find out more, browse the beautiful work of our artisan partners, or read the stories of how Noonday's partnership is changing lives visit http://rebeccageddings.noondaycollection.com
❤️
