The Beads of Courage Artist Challenge is always a special
day. Firing up the torch, I found myself
surrounded by close friends and talented artists giving so freely of their time
and skills. I deeply admire their
selfless gift of service. Having a son
born with a congenital heart defect, Beads of Courage is a cause near and dear
to my heart on so many levels.
Courageous children, who have requested special beads,
gather around the studio tables as the glass enters the flame. Skilled artisans steady their hands as they
begin to bring Dream Beads to
life. The molten glass starts to flow
and a menagerie of one-of-a-kind beads fill the hot kilns. Happy ladybugs, alien-like monsters, smiling
minions, superheroes, monkeys, and waddling ducks form a colorful parade of
silliness. Sounds of laughter echo in
the bustling studio as whimsical designs take shape. These beads will become unique Act of Courage
beads, given to children on tough treatment days or to acknowledge milestones.
Sheer amazement is visible in the children’s inquisitive
eyes as they watch the dance of molten glass.
Creativity floods their eager minds as beads take shape. In this moment, the children forget about
their serious illnesses and the daily struggles. Their thoughts drift away to the endless
possibilities of glass. Parents’ hearts
are filled with happiness as they see their child’s wonder. On this day, I have watched parents hold back
tears, while children smile with joy. This
is the reason why so many love the National Bead Challenge Day. The delightful scene is repeated in glass
studios around the world. Artists as a
collective inspire hope, one bead at a time.
The children are full of questions. Many are concerned for the artist’s safety
and ask, “Have you ever burnt yourself?”
In the child’s eyes, the artists are brave souls who tame fire and molten
glass. In our eyes, the children are the
brave ones. Each bead on their elaborate
necklace stands as significant evidence of their courageous spirit, a record of
their story. They are gallant heroes in
every sense of the word.
