On the THIRD DAY, God Created a Band CHRISTIAN LIVING MAY/JUNE 2005 MAY/JUNE 2005 THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY SHARE THEIR JOURNEY OF FAITH TO THE CAPITOL.
DIAMONDS for MOM Remember back in elementary school when someone s mom or dad came to read to the class? Or show some famous artwork? Or explain their business on show and tell day? My favorite was an ophthalmologist who came in with a giant eyeball and told us how this amazing organ disproved Darwinism (the eyeball has never evolved) and clearly pointed to a divine creator. In the same vein, Doug Meadows of David Douglas Diamonds wanted to have a memorable impact on the children of Cobb and Cherokee Counties, so he and his brother came up with a plan that included a fun challenge and a big reward a plan based largely in their love for the family. 48 Christian Living by Lisa A. Rice Photographs by Robin Nelson
IT S ALL IN THE FAMILY As the baby of the Meadows family - which included Don, Dan, Dave, and Doug - Doug has enjoyed the jewelry business that has employed many members of his extended family. His brother Dan works for a big jeweler in Michigan, and he, his brother Dave, and their father work in the Marietta David Douglas Diamonds store. Dave s son, Jonathan, manages the company s Woodstock store, and Doug s 13-year-old son, Joseph, is also showing promise for the jewelry business. Already he understands casting procedures and the process for setting up waxes that will eventually house the gold. REMEMBERING MOM The one who s missing from the equation, however, is their mother, who passed away fourteen years ago from cancer. One day she had terrible back pains, so they admitted her to the hospital But she never came out, recalls Doug. It all happened so fast. We miss her and just loved her so much. In order to commemorate her and the generous life she led, the sons decided to hold a Mother s Day Contest in the elementary schools in the areas surrounding their stores. The brothers recalled how their father used to encourage them to take care of their mom. You always have enough money to buy her a card, boys, he d tell the children. That s a minimum. To springboard from their father s encouragement, Doug and Dave came up with a challenge called Why My Mom Deserves a Diamond, which is a 27-word essay that school children can write in hopes of winning their mother a diamond. Georgia is really focusing on writing, so we knew this would fit in well with teaching actual writing practice, says Doug. And I think everyone s intrigued by a contest that gives away three diamonds. The contest focuses on the elementary schools, awarding a diamond to each of the three groups, including 1st and 2nd graders, then 3rd and 4th graders, then 5th and 6th graders. It s up to the individual teachers and principals regarding each one s decision to participate in the contest. EVERY CLASS A WINNER Not only do the brothers give away diamonds, but they also award various gemstones for the second place May/June 05 Christian Living 49
Doug Meadows displays some of the Ugliest Ties already entered Doug and his wife attend Restoration Life Christian Fellowship. winners. Each year they give away sixty gemstones. We try to make sure that every teacher that has a class represented has someone in that class who will win a prize. Last year thirty-seven different schools from the public, private, Christian, and home-schooling sectors were involved, totaling about 1100 entries. The brothers asked several teachers to be the judges, including a media specialist, a 4th grade teacher, and a 7th grade teacher of the year. The judges say they had a great time but had to make some tough choices. Children worked hard on their essays, many of them including great tear-jerker stories about moms that were sick or away, and others winsomely and lovingly itemizing their mother s award-winning attributes. Some of the kindergartners who couldn t write yet drew pictures that told a thousand words. Favorites include lines like: Whenever she gets mad at me, she still loves me forever. She never gets a rest. She must love me and my dad and my sister a lot. She makes sure I m safe and I look good. When the winners are announced in April, a few weeks prior to Mother s Day, the moms are asked to come to the store and have their picture made with their child. It s an exciting time for the storeowners, employees, moms and kids alike. Doug then actually goes to some of the schools and presents the participating children with certificates. WHAT ABOUT DAD? This year, for the first time, David Douglas Diamonds is adding a special treat to include the dads. This June, around Father s Day, they ll host the Ugliest Tie Contest. Kids and moms will get to scour dad s closet and bring his most hideous tie into the store for display. We ve got this huge crown molding on the ceiling, and we ll pin all the ties at top, says Doug. That way, the customers can view them and cast their votes. The winner of this contest will receive a very nice watch from the store s collection. Doug is ever aware, however, that ugly is in the eye of the beholder, and one man s junk is another man s treasure. Who knows? There might even be a bidding war over that one special tie. The schools and neighborhoods near David Douglas Diamonds are very aware and appreciative of the family-operated jewelry store that has made it a priority to put a smile on faces and fingers of young and old, and to become a fun part of the memories of school children for years to come. continued on page 52 This June, around Father s Day, they ll host the Ugliest Tie Contest. scour dad s closet and bring his most hideous tie into the store for display. customers can view them and cast their votes. The winner of this contest will receive a very nice watch from the store s collection. 50 Christian Living May/June 05
Mother s Day contest entries 2004 My mom deserves a diamond because she s always nice to me and takes care of me when she could be doing things for herself. (#29) She s fun, good and kind. She s funny, good snuggler, She gives the best hugs, the best cooking, she s cool and I love her very much. (#31) Emmanuel & Rony Castro I like my mom. I would never get a new mom. I like this one just the way she is. She is, She is, She is the coolest mom ever.(#41) My mom deserves the diamond because she helps me not to cry when my dad goes on trips and when I see people bury my grandma. (#51) She introduced me to God. She listens when she doesn t want to hear what I have to say. She forgives me and loves me when I m wrong. (#55) We are bad off and I can t buy her anything. So if I win this I will show her how much gratitude and how much I love her. (#89) Like the taste of sugar, my mom is always sweet. She even loves me when I smell like feet. So that s my mom, Don t get me wrong. (#99) Ronnie & Hunter Delashmit My mom deserves a diamond because she is not thinking of herself. She thinks of me instead. She doesn t need a diamond, but she deserves one! (#110) My mom is special because she has four kids and we all do sports. She always tries to figure out what to do with us. (#288) My mom is the best thing that s happend to em sence video games. She makes me happy and helps with homework. (She does most of it!) (#335) My mom is the best above the rest, She cheers me up when i am blue, This is all really true,yeah! Thats my mom, she s the bomb! (#354) Because she always makes chocolate cakes on my birthday and on my sisters birthday she makes cheesecake. (#472) My mom serves others with joy. Godly women like her are as rare as diamonds. She is an awesome example for me to model. Proverbs 31:10-31 (#564) Mimi & Logan Murray 52 Christian Living My mom deserves to win her husband is diseased with cancer and she worrys about bills, food, and me. This is why my mom deserves a diamond. (#849) May/June 05