The Circle of Charity

Aside from apartment floods and toothaches, I believe I should write something a little more positive that happened recently.

At the holiday season, our public library usually puts up an artificial tree in the lobby, which uses donations of warm items for decorations.  I knitted 2 baby hats, 2 child hats, and 2 adult hats for the charity (yet I completely forgot to take a picture of any step of the activity Sorry :down:  )
Some folks might remember a couple when I pulled them out of my bag.

After last Thursday’s Yarn Group, I went by the library to drop off my items.  I walked over to the Front Desk and mentioned that I had knitted some hats and where should I leave them?

The gal behind the counter opened the little gate and led me over to the tree, saying I could put them on anywhere there is a space.
This was difficult to find, the donations were many, mostly of storebought hats and mittens and scarves, but a few knitted things as well.  One very pretty bright red hat, child-size caught my eye.  Cable pattern, someone with talent and patience had knitted it on circular needles.

I brought my hats out of the bag one at a time, carefully placing each one somewhere on the tree.  I made sure to put the red-green-white ombre hat up near the top so it looked like a Christmas decoration.

Then we stood back to admire all the colors and talk about how many people would benefit from so much generosity.

When the phone rang, the librarian went back behind the counter to answer it.

I was just about to make my way to the exit when I was approached by a tall man in a rather nicely tailored coat.

He said he would like to speak with me a minute,
if I had the time, please?

Well, there was a crockpot full of chicken at home, so I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about cooking supper.  I had all the time in the world that afternoon.

He seemed to find it difficult for proper words.  Then he said he had overheard that I had knitted hats for the project.  He pointed to one I had placed on the tree, and said it was so very, very lovely with the light green and the blue going through it.

Then, swallowing a couple times, he said there was a time in his life when he could not provide for 3 daughters.  He always wanted to work, but he was also a student in those days, and the babies came along, and well, money got real tight for awhile.

But then, during this season of the year, somebody came by with a box, full of gifts for his family.  And in that box were three knitted hats, just the sizes his girls would need to stay warm.  Somebody had worked hard to make hats for his family, and they were hats that were not like anybody else’s at school or church.  Those hats were made just for my girls.

By now, his voice was cracking and my lip was quivering, and I told him I knew just how he felt.  We’ve all had struggles in life, and overcoming makes us stronger.  I didn’t feel like I was saying anything new, but I think he wanted to hear the words.

He reached out and touched my shoulder and said he was so glad that there are people who have talent and are willing to share.  He said he would love for his girls to learn how to knit, and they are getting to the age when they could settle down and learn.

He asked if there is a place to get lessons.  I mentioned the Ewe Knit store on Main Street, and the Activity Center, but our meetings there are during the day when school is in session.

He said he was going to look into it, at craft stores and such.  He wants his girls to learn how to make things with their hands, and be able to give beautiful, warm things to charity.

He patted my shoulder again, nodded, walked a couple steps toward the tree, and touched the hat whose color name is High Meadow, looked over at me and nodded again.  Then he walked towards the front door, while I turned toward the other.

As I passed by the desk,
the librarian called out “Thanks Again!”

You have no idea, sweet lady,
how great was my stop at the library that day.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

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