Marsha’s Towels (05/29/2025)

Our small city has an open-air market at the city commons park every Wednesday, May through October. It features fresh, locally grown produce, locally produced honey and cheeses, a variety of homemade sweets, and the handiwork of local artists and crafters. I enjoy strolling along the sidewalk, stopping at the booths to appreciate the offerings and speaking to the vendors. Occasionally, I buy something. More often than not, I go home with the handiwork of a special woman. Her name is Marsha.

We met several years ago at the city market on a Wednesday afternoon. I have a thing for embroidered flour sack towels. It’s all I use in my kitchen. I give them as gifts to my children and grandchildren. When I saw a table stacked with these towels from a distance the first time, I couldn’t wait to get to them. As I walked up, the woman who created them was talking with a customer about another of her crafts, a crocheted baby blanket. I was amazed by all her handwork, but I was smitten with her kitchen towels. I bought her whole stack.

After a few weeks of seeing her and talking to her ever Wednesday and buying her towels, I asked her name. She shared that it was Marsha; then she asked me mine. From that day on, we spoke at every market, and most weeks she had towels for me. I learned that she made an effort every week to do a towel or two for the table specifically for me. I was moved by that because she was a very busy woman, living on a farm, caring for the animals and the crops in the day and crafting in the evenings.

One day I shared with her how appreciative I was of her efforts for me so I had my Christmas stocking stuffers for my large family. She smiled and told me that it was so much more rewarding to work on a piece knowing it would be appreciated. And then she added, “It’s easier to do when I can picture who I’m doing it for.”

I think about Marsha frequently as I use her handiwork to make my work easier. I think about her time and her love shared in each stitch. And I often think of her sharing that she is more motivated to do her crafts when she can picture who she is making an item for at the time. I can understand, totally. I, too, am more moved most of the time to pitch in or to help out when I know who I’m working for, who I’m helping.

As we make our way spiritually through this life, we have many opportunities to offer our time, our talents, our treasure to help others. Marsha taught me that it helps to put a face with a gift, it makes it more personal. I would say that most of what I do service wise in this life, I do it with a “receiver” in mind. But we must be open to doing what is needed and what is just even when we don’t know who will receive it – all we know is that there is a need.

This morning, as I was tidying my coffee station and pulled out an embroidered towel by Marsha, I smiled, I prayed she was well, and I thanked the LORD for her gifts generously shared. And I also asked the LORD to help me be more generous with my gifts more consistently.

May we all, along “the Way”, use that which we have been given for the benefit of others, do so graciously, generously, and consistently. And may we be thankful always to the LORD for the gifts invested in each person. And may we be open to the relationships forged when we share our specific gifts and our time.

Little things matter more than we might realize day to day.  Small deeds done in love are better than grand intentions.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.