She's sew fine!

The 10 X 10 room is quiet except for the soft whir and rhythmic clack-clack-clack of the sewing machine. For hours at a time, she feeds it yards of fabric, which magically become prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, even wedding dresses. She can cut, pin and baste your shapeless Walmart garment, transforming it into haute couture. Or bring in your too-long Levi’s and next week, they’ll be grazing the top of your boot- the perfect length. Show her a picture from a magazine and she’ll replicate it for you- custom fit for your not-so-celeb-ish- body. All for a ridiculously low price.

25 years ago, when we first moved to our small city of Chatham, Ontario, I asked a few people to recommend a good seamstress. Everyone without exception, said, “Call Bina Carvalho.” She truly is one of Chatham’s gems.

Two thousand years ago, another seamstress lovingly cut and stitched garments for her community and gave the widows a discount. Her name was Tabitha, and when she became ill and died, people wailed with grief, showing each other all the garments she’d made. Her friends reached out to Peter, another follower of Jesus. He arrived at her house, laid hands on her and raised her from the dead.

If you had the power to raise someone from the dead, who would it be? Don’t wait till it’s too late to let them know how special they are to you.

Make space for who matters.