I call these necklaces Mabel’s Cross. And, there’s a story about how they came to be.
I live in the small town of Frederick, Illinois. A small township located in Schuyler County. I’ve lived here for just shy of twelve years. Moved here from Belleville, Illinois where I was born and raised and lived my entire life until I met and fell in love with my husband and soulmate Greg. City girl gone country I guess you could say.
Small town life was a big adjustment for me. Frederick’s population is about 200 give or take and is pretty spread out. It’s very rural. Had a post office when I first moved here but the government decided we didn’t need one here so that’s the end of that. Nothing else, no general stores or gas stations or malls (ha, ha). But nearby Beardstown and Rushville are only a hop, skip and short car ride away and the big city of Springfield is only an hour’s drive (by car, not horse and buggy).
I’ve found this small town to be filled with quite a character mix. Eclectic, unique, odd, normal (define normal I say), quirky, eccentric, you name it.
One such character is a sweet older woman named Mabel. She lives up the hill from us. From what I’ve been told she used to own a bakery and sold delectable baked goods. She has retired from that and has now taken on the huge responsibility of praying for and bringing Jesus into the lives of all of Frederick and beyond. She takes this job very seriously yet she is very very sweet about it, not overpowering. I love her very dearly
Every harvest she comes out to the fields to thank us for working her ground and to tell us a little tidbit about Jesus.
Every Christmas she bakes cookies for most, if not all, of Frederick. She has help from nearby neighbor children. She packs the cookies up in brown paper lunch sacks, decorated by the children, tied shut with a bit of yarn and finished off with a handmade note with a bible verse and also decorated by she and the children. Even adds a candy cane or two.
Last Valentine’s Day she gave us a heart shaped box of chocolates…..From Jesus.
She appeared at a funeral of a family member. I’m not sure that she even knew the family, she shows up at times like this. I sat by her and held her hand for a bit telling her how sweet and beautiful she is. She lit up like a Christmas tree. She opened her purse and pulled out a photo (her favorite) of Jesus. She told me she carries these with her and asked if I would like one. Yes, of course. She took out a pen and wrote on the picture, “Jesus Loves You This Much” John 3:16. She told me she loves this picture and always carries extra for others. My grandson’s Baptism was soon to be. I asked her for another. She happily obliged. Mine hangs on my refrigerator; the other went in my grandson, Christian’s, Baptism card.
We give her eggs and squash and this and that from our garden. She gives us honey and home baked bread and homemade grape juice and carrot juice. We can never just give her something without her giving something back to us.
One day she stopped by. With tears in her eyes she told me she was looking for Gizmo, her dog, who went missing. Please, if you see her bring her home. I told her I would pray for her and would keep an eye out. Later that night Gizmo was found.
One day she stopped by with a heavy heart. She was having some sad times and she kinda told me about them but then said that that was the Cross God gave her to bear and so she would.
And so my creative muse said I know just the thing. I had these teeny tiny cross charms just waiting to be created. I made this necklace for Mabel. I took it too her and said, so that your Crosses may never be too heavy to bear. I think I stumped her, how could she give back because that is what she does. So, a few days later she came to my door with this large Cross necklace and asked could I fix it for her, the crystals had fallen out and she wanted to replace them. Unfortunately, after many months, I couldn’t find the size of crystals needed to fix her Cross so I had to return it to her. It’s still a beautiful cross and I will keep a look out for the crystals to replace the shine but I think she will continue to shine without them……she stumped me!
And, tonight, after a long night in the field I come home to a large bag of empty egg cartons with this note attached….
Have you ever felt so much love……..pass it on!