Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Story Behind Grace 11:11

Grace 11:11
"faith, friendship, love, forgiveness"

When I was trying to decide on a name for my new bottle line, I chose the name "Grace".
I blogged about it I think last week.
Since then I have added 11:11 to the name.
why?
well.
Okay,
here's the story.
In the weeks after my childhood best friend Becky Sollie Clark died, I kept seeing 11:11 on the clock!
Well, not just the clock but I would see 1111 everywhere.
Street signs, house numbers.  I mean y'all.
it was really driving me nuts.
All of my close friends know about this, that's how much it had bugged me.
I may or may not have discussed this with a psychic. yep,
So, about 2 weeks after she died, I called her oldest daughter Abby just to see how she was doing.
I was in the car heading from the lake to Atlanta.
11:11 came up on my clock.
Geez I said (almost in frustration)
I told Abby that the number 11:11 was just driving me nuts!
She said "what?"
now y'all, I'm serious about this, you can ask her if you know her.
I continued to tell her that I was seeing 11:11 all the time.
To the point that it was annoying.
Well, in her shock she said "Kendall. My mom did the same thing"!
She continued to tell me about a bible verse that her mom read constantly.

This is Becky.
I know she's in Heaven doing a victory dance for her Auburn Tigers!

The bible verse was
Hebrews 11:11
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

It's about faith.
What 11:11 means to me.
It is a sign that Becky is with me and watching me and helping me through life's challenges.
I really believe that.
Now, a little bit about Becky.
Actually this is also about her family.
Her mom, her sister, and Becky.

I grew up with Becky.
She, her mom, and her sister tri-handedly molded my "artsyness"
They constantly encouraged me to design, create, and follow my God given talents.
Truly the fact that I can paint, craft and use my hands to the glory of God is all because of them.
I just can't tell you how much those three have meant to me in my life.
so, this name is not just in honour of Becky, it's for her sister Alice and her mom Mrs. Sollie.

I now embrace 11:11 when I see it.  Because I just know that Becky is with me.

I have to tell another story.
How different things can make a difference in your life.
First of all, it seems like every thing I do as I get older has to have a significance attached.
Things I buy have to have meaning to me.
People I meet and am friends with are a significant part of my life.
I guess it takes a long time to get to this point but it's just how I roll these days.

This weekend I met a woman who was admiring my bottles.
We talked about this "significance" thing.
She asked me to tell her about the name Grace 11:11.
I proceeded to tell her about the whole story.
Tears started flooding her eyes (which made me tear up)
She told me that 11/11 also has a significance in her life.
To the point that she tattooed it on her hip!
WOW.
She said she divorced on 11/11.
Of course I didn't pry, I just wrapped my arms around her and cried with her.
WOW.

grace 11:11

have a wonderful day y'all!
kb



6 comments:

  1. Beautiful post and love that you honored your friend in such a special way. The bottles are beautiful and so are you! Peace and Blessings!

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  2. What gorgeous bottles and beautiful sentiment. Losing our oldest and dearest friends is so hard. I lost my best friend from childhood at 40. What an impact that had on my life. Love that you used your talent for such an amazing tribute. Thinking we may need to do a post on these...let me know what you think.

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  3. Kendall . Wow. You embody the word Wow. I loved loved loved meeting you last night. Your talent is breathtaking. I enjoyed talking with ya about my daughter and her photography, and will see that you get the link. Keep on truckin' girl. And try to keep up with those li'uns!!!!! Let's visit again soon! Remember, "Quite frankly, an inappropriately given name at birth can trigger a darn good case of self-fulfilling prophesy! (see ...Tiffani:) )

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    1. Gayle! (with a y)! I loved meeting you last night!!! omg. you are just a doll! Please e-mail me at kbdr@aol.com. Want to do lunch!!!

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  4. Wandered over here from Design Chic blog. A friend of mine was haunted by seeing 11:11 - this was about 15 years ago. My Son looked up the meaning and it really seemed to help my friend understand that it was a blessing.
    I see Cardinals in some form every day since my Father passed away 14 years ago. He had a connection with the bird when he was alive and it gives me strength to know that something much more significant is help to guide me. {the story about it is on my blog}

    Oh - and love, love, your bottles. The best I have ever seen.

    Katherine - Glamour Begins At Home

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  5. Your story is amazing. Even more amazing, I have a very similar story. My precious father was one of the best Christian men that anyone could ever know, and left a lasting legacy in our family. I am oldest of 6 childen. He often would say, "Look, the time is 11:11!", so often, in fact, that he started us all noticing it. He died in January, 2002. Now, whenever any of us see 11:11 on the clock or anywhere else, we all say "Hello, Daddy", for we know it means he is near, still guiding us and watching over us. Thank you for the scripture reference to Hebrews 11:11 - I will share it with the family and I know it will be a blessing to them as it is to me! By the way, on his tombstone is his motto verse - "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." 1 John 4:11.

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