Mustard Seed Jewelry
by Colleen Vanderlinden • November 10, 2009 • Miscellaneous • 8 Comments
I was talking to my mother-in-law over the weekend. Now, my mother-in-law is a lovely person, but, like me, she tends to veer off-topic. We were talking about health care reform, then doctors, then her kidney stone (which she saved — don’t ask), and then, logically enough, to mustard seed jewelry. She told me that all of her friends growing up wore mustard seeds, encased in glass or plastic, as necklaces. I had never heard of the tradition of wearing a mustard seed in an amulet around one’s neck, but, as always, was intrigued at the mere mention of the word “seed.”
So, I looked into it, and apparently this is where my heathen upbringing comes back to haunt me. Many of my readers are probably thinking, “you’re kidding. You didn’t know about the mustard seed?” Well, no. I didn’t.
The idea is that the mustard seed is a symbol of faith, as associated with this quote from The Bible:
“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible unto you.” — Matthew 17:20.
It’s a nice sentiment, and I can see why it was a trend among my mother-in-law and her cohorts. Growing up Polish in Detroit in the 50′s meant you were part of a thriving Catholic community. We won’t get into where that leaves my MIL and I in regard to religious discussions.
Personally, I think I’d rather plant the mustard seed instead.
Have you heard of this tradition? I’m wondering if it’s generational or if this is something that everyone who is raised in a religious household knows about. Just curious 
I had mustard seed jewelry. My grandfather was a minister and he used to send them to his granddaughters- I had more than one piece of jewelry of this type:) Mostly I remember the necklace which is what you have illustrated.
I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of this, since it was a bit before your time: not much of it from mid-sixties after….
I also had a ten commandments charm bracelet- with each of the commandments engraved on a goldtone metal disk and attached to a gold color link bracelet.
I believe it is a faith-based symbol, even today. If someone said they had a mustard-seed necklace, I would know the reason why.
Interesting… I haven’t heard of this at all, and I grew up pretty strict Catholic. I’ll have to ask my Mom if she’s ever heard of it–if she has, and I hadn’t, it might lend credence to Ilona’s thought that it might just be before our time.
My family wasn’t religious, but we kids were sent to a Lutheran sunday school where they even got Norman Vincent Peale to come and make a speech (or maybe they took us to a speech) and he told the story of a man who was depressed and in dire financial straits when the famous minister Dr. Peale quoted this verse to him. The man had a Eureka! moment and invented the mustard seed pendants – and became solvent, if not rich. There is a real American/religion story for you. This would have been in the mid-1950s. Dr. Peale is the author of The Power of Postive Thinking and many other books.
I had a bracelet with a charm on it just like the one in the photo – brings back memories of that bracelet! It’s probably somewhere in my Mom’s basement. I’ll have to go look for it this Christmas! We just covered the Luke passage about the mustard seed in my Bible study, and I used the mustard seeds from my pantry to show my students. Cool timing!
When I was a young girl my mother and father gave me and all of my sisters Bibles with a mustard seed in a little glass ball attached with a chain…I am Baptist and to us it’s a show of faith.
I don’t remember who it was, but I do remember getting a small charm bracelet when I was very young in Church… It was lost long ago. I do plan on either getting or making myself another charm to put on my Faith Bracelet.
I found that it is a wonderful way to minister without “Bible thumping” those who are curious about my Faith.
hmm… now to find a way to make some!
I recently made a mustard seed pendant. I didn’t know it was so popular. I had never heard of it before making the pendant. Since that time I’ve been on the web and there are literally hundreds of websites selling the product.
I think it is a great way to have a constant reminder of the Power of Faith. I think faith has no religious boundaries. Even an atheist has faith the thing that causes us to move on an idea believing it will become a part of perception / reality.
I think it’s great! I strongly believe if more people understood the simplicity of the power of faith much of the depression and hopelessness of the present day would transform to courage in the moment and renewed hope for the future.