Saturday, February 5, 2011

Stirrings in the heart

Yet another story of gratitude.

One of the elderly recipients of the gifts from this community turned out to be a woman who is blind and confined to the room she calls home, as well as the immediate surroundings of the dining area and common rooms.  She doesn't venture out because there is no other family to take her beyond the doors.

When her gift was presented, and she was told that this was provided by someone from her parish, she was perplexed: my parish has sent me a gift?  You see, she hasn't been here in years, ever since her vision challenge made it almost impossible for her to navigate on her own.  She proceeded to unwrap the gift, and was very peasantly surprised to find within a plush scarf, hat and mittens, which she was told were a rich blue colour.

For her, the colour is not as important as the texture of the material.  On more than one occasion, she has asked the staff to let her hold the textiles, just so she can revel in their luxury, even as she continues to wonder about her worthiness to be the recipient of such a wonderful gift.  She will never wear these things if she never sets foot outside the doors of the establishment where she lives, and yet they have already brought her such joy!

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