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Family Unit
"Even as the cell is the
unit of the organic body, so the family is the unit of
society."
-Ruth Nanda Anshen
The Sewing Day
by Jessica Gerald
An
elderly lady once told me about a tradition that she
and her daughters shared in the 1960's. It was
their annual "sewing day".
The woman had four grown daughters, and quite a few grandchildren.
None of them were prosperous, and
they were accustomed to living frugally. It was
sometimes difficult to provide their children with a
variety of new clothes with which to start the
school year. So they decided to combine talents and
resources, and simply make new clothes for the
little ones.
Excitement was in the air as the woman, her daughters, and their children met at the home place on the appointed morning. Everyone came prepared with fabric, sewing notions, patterns, and any other supplies they might need. The ladies set up an assembly line. One person would cut the fabric from the patterns, one would pin the pieces in place, someone else would do the machine sewing, and yet another would perform the finishing touches and hand sewing. Finally, the new garment would be ironed and hung up, ready for the lucky recipient to wear it to school.
This went on all day, because there were quite a few grandchildren who needed clothes. The house was filled with the sound of laughing, talking, and sharing as mother and daughters swapped stories and relayed the latest gossip. Children wiggled as moms tried to measure the patterns up against them. Scattered around the house were dolls, games, and toy cars as cousins spent the day playing together.
The woman was a wonderful cook and baker. So the delicious aroma of dinner in the oven, and homemade cakes and cookies filled the cozy house.
By the end of the day, each of her daughters left with a stack of new school clothes for her children. Yet they took home far more than garments. They departed with memories of fellowship, fun, closeness, and the security of being a member of a family that took care of its own.
The woman had four grown daughters, and quite a few grandchildren.
None of them were prosperous, and
they were accustomed to living frugally. It was
sometimes difficult to provide their children with a
variety of new clothes with which to start the
school year. So they decided to combine talents and
resources, and simply make new clothes for the
little ones.Excitement was in the air as the woman, her daughters, and their children met at the home place on the appointed morning. Everyone came prepared with fabric, sewing notions, patterns, and any other supplies they might need. The ladies set up an assembly line. One person would cut the fabric from the patterns, one would pin the pieces in place, someone else would do the machine sewing, and yet another would perform the finishing touches and hand sewing. Finally, the new garment would be ironed and hung up, ready for the lucky recipient to wear it to school.
This went on all day, because there were quite a few grandchildren who needed clothes. The house was filled with the sound of laughing, talking, and sharing as mother and daughters swapped stories and relayed the latest gossip. Children wiggled as moms tried to measure the patterns up against them. Scattered around the house were dolls, games, and toy cars as cousins spent the day playing together.
The woman was a wonderful cook and baker. So the delicious aroma of dinner in the oven, and homemade cakes and cookies filled the cozy house.
By the end of the day, each of her daughters left with a stack of new school clothes for her children. Yet they took home far more than garments. They departed with memories of fellowship, fun, closeness, and the security of being a member of a family that took care of its own.
About the Author: Jessica Gerald is a Christian wife, mother, and elementary school teacher.
Photo by Emma McCreary.