Miss Martha

After winter ends, Arielle heads back to the 4-H center for sewing instruction for three or four hours every Saturday. The first year she made a backpack and a skirt, and the second year she made a sundress and a shrug. This past few months she completed another dress.

Now I am able to teach my daughters to sew. But since we are together pretty much all the time, I think it's beneficial for the girls to learn from and spend time with other women. There are many wonderful volunteers involved in 4-H. But for the past two sewing seasons, Arielle has been paired with Miss Martha, a widow in her eighties.

Miss Martha is beautiful with her sparkly blue eyes, white hair, and clear, rosy complexion. I think skin like that used to be called "peaches and cream." She is elegant in her soft pastel sweaters and she wears her jewelry every week as if she is going some place important. Miss Martha is kind and soft-spoken and she is an excellent seamstress. She used to make suits for her husband in years past. She has sewn for her children and grandchildren for many, many years. She is a perfectionist and she knows special techniques for getting the job done and she is able to interpret those poorly written pattern directions. Best of all, she is willing to pass on these skills to a new generation of young women.

By chance Arielle had Miss Martha as her personal tutor one year. The next, as we arrived on the first day, Miss Martha was sitting quietly, waiting. She said, "I'd like to work with Arielle, if she doesn't mind." If she doesn't mind? We were delighted to see her and I was secretly hoping Arielle could work with her again. They had quite a time together this year. Arielle had a very difficult pattern and there were fitting problems. Miss Martha patiently worked through them all with her, and Arielle patiently took out seams over and over until the dress was just right. To see them work, it was a solemn affair. Heads bent down together, neither spoke much, and when they did, it was softly and with few words. But there was a connection. Martha told me several times how much she enjoyed teaching Arielle. She said, "I just have to tell her something once and she does it."

Once again, Arielle modeled for the County Fashion Revue and once again she qualified for the regional competition. Miss Martha did not attend the fashion show but Arielle got a lovely note of congratulations from her. But we give most of the credit to Miss Martha! Yes, Arielle did the work, but Miss Martha guided her and taught her. As a result, Arielle is meticulous, careful, and willing to work slowly and methodically to complete a project.

What a gift Miss Martha has been to my daughter! She is a wonderful teacher and mentor. Most of all, she is the picture of I Peter 3:4, "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." As we left the 4-H center on the last day of sewing, Miss Martha was in the parking lot. We said our good-byes and then she told me she didn't think she would return next spring. She said it was getting to be too hard for her. I did notice the past few weeks she's seemed tired. But then she said, "I think I'd like to work with your younger daughter too." Liana also completed a winning outfit this year.

So maybe Miss Martha will come back. A friend of mine attends her church, so hopefully she will help me keep tabs on Miss Martha. I hope the opportunity will arise when we can give back to this beautiful woman what she has so generously given to others.