The red coat hung in the display.
It caught her attention at once.
It was a deep yet bright red,
With shiny, black, round buttons.
On one side was the price tag.
The figure was her year’s salary!
Now, her interest really piqued
And she quizzed the shop lady.
The coat was made in a village
In a faraway and foreign land.
It was created by craftsmen,
Over many days, with their hands.
As she went to bed that night,
She thought about that coat.
Yes, she loved and wanted it.
It looked every bit its worth.
As she pondered further on,
A question arose in her mind –
What was it about that coat
That made it one of its kind?
Was it the warmth and softness?
Was it the color and buttons?
Was it that it was all handmade
In a faraway village by artisans?
But, wasn’t it just like… her quilt?!
The thought came so suddenly,
She turned on the light to see it –
It was her old grandmother’s gift.
Years ago, her grandmother
Had hand-sewn this cozy quilt
With cloth pieces in varied colors,
And patterns, and a cottony fill.
It had warmth and softness!
It had colors and buttons!
It was definitely all handmade
By her grandmother, like an artisan!
The coat was then just a dream
That looked perfect in the display.
Even if she bought it, it seemed,
She’d never wear it every day.
She turned the lights out to sleep,
And yet, her mind was clear as day.
For the thing she desired so deeply
Was something she already possessed.
wordsofhope 