What little Gift will You Give this Christmas?

bySylvies

199 followers

8 years ago

It's Christmas Day and I got to remembering the year I was stuck in the jungle.

I chose to go in response to a request from the village elder to come and help teach our women to sew their own clothes. It could only be at Christmas so I went leaving hubby, family and friends. It was great at first everyone was friendly enough but something wasn't quite right.

There was an old Blind Lady who would always interrupt. When she did others would lose track. No one said anything but it really narked me when I was trying to share something.

We were half way through the training and just before Christmas. I was feeling sorry for myself all alone in the bush in a village where no-one seemed to really appreciate me giving up my Christmas with my hubby. Get the . . .I . . me . . . my . . .

Anyway, there I was feeling so sorry for myself, trying to get to sleep on the hard floor, when all of a sudden came the thought to make a dress for the Blind Lady. I didn't want to. Made all sorts of excuses to myself - you know how you do. I'm so tired. I've done enough, etc etc

Eventually I agree to make a dress for the Blind Lady BUT I will only use the oddment of material that no-one wanted to use.

Ah no - immediately came to my mind 'No, use the best material'. I sure didn't want to do that. No no no, I want to take that home and make a nice dress for me. That's the plan I had. In the end I agreed.

Next day after a hard days work in the heat, I set to and started making a dress for the Blind Lady. My host Sango, looked in wonder. "Why are you working, now - at night?!" I didn't say much just that I was making a dress for the Blind Lady. She went real quiet and just watched me as I cranked the antique hand sewing machine. The gas light glimmered and on I sewed through the night. At last it was finished just past midnight. I laid it out beside the sewing machine, turned out the lamp, laid down on the mat and fell straight to sleep, dead as a door nail.

Next morning I awoke to clamour outside the leaf house. I walked out of the sleeping area and found the village women all talking at once and trying to get through the doorway. Through the windows I could see more and more coming from all parts of the village.

Suddenly there was a hush and they parted a bit making an opening, through which walked in the Blind Lady - wearing the dress! I didn't expect . . .

Tears were rolling down her cheeks and she kept stroking and touching the skirt of her dress. We all stood still.

Then came the questions - why . . . . . why the best material? . . . she's blind she cannot see but you gave the very best, why Sylvia? But it was evident to all as the Blind Lady touched and stroked her dress. We all stood still. We cried and hugged . . .

It was the first time the Blind Lady was quiet and there was a peace about her.

Everywhere I went that Christmas in that little village, far far away in the bush of Solomon Islands, women called, "Sylvia come . . ." and we'd talk and laugh and laugh for hours like we were family always and forever - we still are.

Later I found, the Blind Lady was related to just about everyone in the village. This one little gift changed the whole village.

What will you give this Christmas?