the maker's box
The Maker's Box started out like a dream. Not in a magical, I can't believe I am going to get the chance to do something so beautiful kind of way. It was more the where is this coming from and where is it going and why does nothing make sense part that gave it its dreamlike feel. I'd like to tell you how it began, show you the goal lists brimming with ambition alongside all the best-laid plans. But I am no visionary, no entrepreneur. I'm not even a planner. In true dream fashion, I sort of woke up at the start of it, watched it all unfold, and did what I could to play my part.
In the summer of 2024, I was spending the afternoon with a friend of mine, and she mentioned her oldest daughter, Selah, is very creative. That detail came back into my mind a few days later, and I decided I wanted to make a pencil box for her. Something small that she could easily carry around with some of her art supplies in it. I asked my friend if that was ok, and she was thrilled about the idea. A couple of weeks later I gave Selah that pencil box. She was so surprised. I had engraved her name along with a design into the lid with my wood burner. I also put a small sketchbook and some drawing pencils inside of it, and told her that I would love to see her drawings any time she wanted to show me. A couple of days later, my friend told me that Selah had been showing and telling people about the pencil box and saying that it was "The best gift she has ever gotten". I am certain Selah has absolutely received better gifts than a wooden box with some art supplies in it from someone who's not even related to her. But nonetheless, I was shocked and absolutely flattered that I had made such an impact on her. Selah was a well-adjusted 9-year-old at the time; smart, creative, and deeply loved by her family. Yet she loved the box enough to tell people about it. That stirred something in me. I found myself thinking, "If I can inspire Selah, who knows love, who knows what it feels like to feel special, who already has things of her own such as a room, a bed, a house, a family; what could a pencil box do for a child that doesn't have those things?" That question really began to weigh heavily on me, and I started to wonder if this was coming from the Lord, and perhaps He wanted it to be more than just an idea. The Bible talks about us being the hands and feet of Jesus. It occurred to me that maybe He has some kids in mind who need a box, and maybe I could be the hands and feet to make it and give it to them. So I started making boxes.
In the beginning, I was planning to give them specifically to kids entering into the foster care system. Jesus has since blown that out of the water. I have given away boxes to kids from all walks of life, and this has since expanded into a vision of an entire maker's movement for children. Inspiring kids to be not only makers of things, but also makers of good. I wrote a children's book called The Good Maker that talks about how we as humans are creations and we have a maker. But not just any maker; we were made by God, and He is not only the Good Maker, He is also the original maker of good. Since we were made by Him, it should come as no surprise that we want to be makers too. Through Him, and because of Him, not only can we be makers of things, but we can also be makers of good just like He is.
The Maker's Box has only just begun, and it maintains its dreamlike feel. I am simply along for the ride and doing my best to keep up. When Jesus decides to write a story, it is always beautiful, so if nothing else, I know for certain in the depths of all that I am that the best is yet to come. Thank you for stopping by and reading this story. If you are connected to any children already in, or entering into, the foster care system, if you know of any children who are fighting a disease, recovering from an illness or injury, or just having a hard time in general and you believe they could benefit from the gift of a maker's box, please reach out to me via my contact page. I would love to partner with you in any way that I am able.