Jill Hardie
By Suzanne O'Keeffe, 700 Club Interactive
CBN.com –MEET JILL HARDIE
Jill's profession is based on "getting people's attention," by utilizing her abilities to contribute to a worthy purpose. Jill has taken a "real-life tradition" that she and her family adopted of assisting those in need during the holiday seasons and written a book titled The Sparkle Box. As Jill shared, she was at the starting line of her "true relationship with God" developing. Her faith was shaky coupled with insecurities that ran deep as she struggled with low self esteem and lacking an ability to receive the love of God and His forgiveness. A result of writing this book, Jill has come to realize that the writing of this book brought her to the truth that "God does love each of us so much, and will use us right we here we are if we open up our hearts to Him.
A NEW TRADITION
One Christmas season, Jill and her family visited a church that was having an alternative gift fair. They were immediately intrigued with the idea of getting away from the "traditional gifts" to do something different. The basis was/is to make a charitable gift to the organization of your choice and then present the person you would have bought the traditional gift with a card that shows a donation was made in their name. As time passed, they missed the gifts they used to give to friends and family but wanted to keep giving the "alternative" gifts as well. What Jill and her husband realized together was the understanding that when they give to people in need, they are really honoring Jesus. So, they decided to give their gifts of compassion to Him on Christmas morning. The first Christmas as they opened the gift they had put under the tree for Jesus, opened it and read the gifts of compassion they had made in His Name, Jill said was the "the most humbling, moving moment I had ever experienced. I could barely read the gifts I got so choked up. ....It was such a special moment." It also enhanced their family giving of gifts.
With their lives transformed Jill and her family knew this was something they wanted everyone to experience. Equipped with the peace and joy that the Lord have given them, they began to discuss writing a book. Jill thought to write a book for adults as they are the ones who seem to have lost the joy due to all the stress associated with Christmas. As she tried to write it, it just did not seem to come together so she set the idea aside. However, there came the day when the Lord said, "now," and as she sat at her kitchen table and wrote the title Sparkle Box, the flow began; within an hour and a half the manuscript was complete. With the help of a friend who had connection in the publishing industry, Jill sent her manuscript in and soon Ideals Children's Books pick it up. At the back of each book is an actual Sparkle Box to create your own new tradition. Some ideas of gifts to put in during the days that lead up to December 25th are giving blankets to the homeless, give food for those who are hungry, donate to a charitable cause, anything that would be a gift in the name of Jesus to those in need. Each gift that is given is written on a piece of paper and put in the box with the anticipation of reading them out loud to Jesus before you open your own gifts.
RESPONSE
Jill explained delight and her surprise as "people of all ages" have enjoyed her book. Adults have cried as their hearts are touched, older generations are taken back to when times were simple and less commercialized, and love that they can bring that to their grandchildren. Generosity and acts of kindness have been the reaction of children, and they love to hear the story read many times over. There are book clubs, churches, teenager, and college students all participating in this message of love and giving. Jill's heart is for one and all to know and understand that lasting joy is found in the teaching and person of Jesus Christ. She wants His words that challenge us, giving is better than receiving, to resonate in us and know how simple it is.