The most precious person I owe my life from was the same person who planted the seed of faith in my heart. No, she did not sit me down as a child and had me listen to her preaching. She simply brought me to church on Sunday mornings. By taking me to the house of God, my mother introduced me to faith – faith in what is good and true, faith in fellow human beings, and most importantly, faith in the Creator of the Universe. I thank my mother for introducing me to the faith, without which, I would have probably never gotten back up those many times I have stumbled in life.
When I decided to leave home and worked on the other side of the globe, I carried with me that seed of faith in humanity and God. I prayed that I would meet people who would help me nurture this faith. My prayer was answered. I’ve met women of all walks of life who have, in one way or another, drawn me closer to God. I remember these women and the life lessons I learned from them regardless of the length of time I’ve gotten to know them.
The Adviser
Married to a Vietnam War veteran and a long time employee at one of the local high schools, this lady is a very dedicated parishioner at her church. Her strong faith in God is manifested in her dedication to service for others. For those many years I’ve known her, she has been a volunteer worker at a food bank, at the downtown’s soup kitchen, at the local center for the homeless. She donates food, money, and clothes to those who need them.
Kind and generous, she would often invite me and my family to Sunday breakfasts and dinners at her home especially during Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, etc. She and her husband became our closest “family.” They would serve as our advisers in both personal and professional matters. They supported us those years my own children were growing up.
The History Teacher
Immigrating from South Africa, this lady spoke English, French, and Arabic. She was a strong, independent woman. After the passing of her husband, she left all her children in Johannesburg to come live in the United States. She worked as a jeweler in New Orleans until she retired. At the time I met her, she was living by herself at Casa de Amigo apartments. Every Saturday when I get the chance, I visit her to check if she needed me to ran errands for her. Most of the time however, we simply sit down together, and I listen to her stories about her experiences living in South Africa, Australia, the Great Britain, France, Turkey, and the like. She is a well-traveled woman who lived through World War I and World War II. She grew to witness how the world has metamorphosed from the dark, devastating effects of two world wars to the much better and semi-peaceful world of today. She was a living history book, and I learned a lot from her.
The Antique Seller
I had gotten to know this person just one time as her customer. I bought a leather tote bag from her for a hundred bucks. When I was at her store, the bag looked new. I did not notice any damage at all, but when I brought the bag home, I realized some slight damage on one side of the bag. In retrospect, perhaps it was the dim lighting at her antique store that made me not recognize the flaw. Anyhow, I decided to return the bag a few days later. The lady did not ask why I was returning it. With a smile on her face and gentleness in her voice, she simply said, “It’s okay. You may return it.”
This lady taught me that grace and kindness is the way to customer satisfaction.
The Visitor
Introduced by a friend, this lady came down from Michigan not only to visit our small border town but to buy some medicines she claimed were prized so exorbitantly up north. She said that the prices of her medicines she buys in her state are much cheaper buys down here by the border. This is the reason flew in here.
At the time she came to town, we were in the process of moving in to a new house. We did not have an extra bed nor sofa available for her. I thought that it would be better for her to stay in a hotel for a night, but she chose to stay with us. She was willing to sleep on the floor with just a mat on it. She sounded very simple and practical. I thought that maybe if I were in her place, I would go to a hotel even if it meant I would charge my credit card. But she did not do what I would have done. She wanted to stay and spend time with us. She treated us kindly like her family.
Later, when she left town, I learned that she was a retired doctor and came from a prominent, wealthy family in East Asia and that she was living by herself up north. I thank this woman for teaching me to value connecting with other people even if you do not know them. I felt embarrassed to have thought that sleeping on the floor was below me. This woman could afford a five star hotel, but she chose to stay in my house to connect with me. She put into action Suze Orman’s admonition to many: “People first, then money, then things.”
The Preacher
This proper, kind lady came knocking at my door on one Saturday morning in the summer of 2011. She kindly asked me if I had time to spare for a short sharing. It was Saturday morning, and I usually hesitate to let people of other faiths come to my house and preach. But for whatever reason, I was drawn to this lady’s gentleness, so I caught myself allowing her to come in, but I told her upfront that I was Catholic.
“I could see that,” she replied as she looked around my living room and saw a crucifix hanging on the wall, a rosary and a small statue of the Blessed Mother by the center table flanked by Pope Benedict’s picture. She sat down and said a little prayer. Then she asked if she could read some topics that might be of interest to me. I chose the topic about how Hitler persecuted the Jehovah’s Witnesses during WWII. It sounded like a review of the history topic I’ve read in the past.
She began by showing me a picture of Hitler and the Pope. She went on to explain how the pope has helped Hitler in his evil scheme to discriminate some groups including the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I started to protest because I thought that the Catholic church did not condone Hitler’s agenda let alone supported him. But I could not give her some historical facts that could convince her of my claim. So, I stopped and listened to her instead.
After about twenty minutes, she said goodbye and left.
If what this JW preacher said was true about the pope during the time of Hitler, I need to read more about what the Catholic church did during WWII. In my mind, I thought the church did its part to shield people from the cruelty of the oppressor, but I felt ashamed of my lack of knowledge about what the Catholic church or the pope did at that time that I was not able to rebut the claims the preacher made.
This JW preacher did little to change my mind about my faith as a Catholic. She challenged me to know more about the leaders of my church, the roles they did during the crucial moments in history, and to continue reading about the teachings of the Catholic church.
If anything, this JW preacher made me a more serious Catholic.
The Silent Benefactor
Even though she was almost 90 years old, this indefatigable woman had been making the best veggie rolls, empanada, and Pancit Bihon (noodles) for years. Most of the time, families order these from her, but sometimes she makes them to donate during community affairs.
Immigrating to North America at an older age, this lady used her cooking skills to generate some income and be able to sustain herself. She told me one time that this side hussle supplemented whatever social security money she had. She said, “It’s enough to cover my needs. Whatever is extra I save for somebody.”
When she passed away, her family donated most of her stuff to Goodwill and some, to the old country. The things that were left behind were some pictures, old bags, receipts, and letters. In one of the letters, I got to learn that she was sending money to somebody who is learning to become a priest. I now understand who she was referring to when she told me that whatever she saved from her sales go to somebody.
This woman taught me that as long as we are alive and able, we ought to extend help to those needing it. Age is no excuse for not doing more. This woman showed me how, to the very end of her life, intentional act of giving to those wanting to serve God, is something to consider.
The Community Organizer
Every November, this lady calls some members of her small community to come together and participate in the Fall Festival at the local church. Participating means getting involved in fund raising for the church. She would mobilize her members to prepare barbecue, pancit, and egg rolls to be sold during the festival. Her husband would also organize a group to put up the booth.
I don’t know how she does it, but she truly has a knack for putting people together to work for a cause. Her humility and charity, her easy-going personality and friendliness, and her dedication and creativity motivate others to do the same.
I learned from this person to be the hand, eyes, and feet of the Lord. She has used per people skills and connections to enable others to build a community by letting them share their time and resources.
There will be more women I’ll be meeting along my life’s journey, but these women have modeled to me how it is to live in charity and grace.
This Borrowed Scrap of Time 