Experience Needle-Time
Needle-Time is a fictional piece written to bring to life the magic that surrounds the love of carrying on the tradition of the needlearts from generation to generation. Join me for a new story each issue that will reflect the strong bond formed between Aunt Lilly and Molly through their special needle-time.
Last issue Aunt Lilly Aunt Lilly figured out how to help Molly's
love for gardening blossom. Join us this issue as Molly learns
that giving is much better than receiving.
Acts of Kindness
Aunt Lilly and Molly combed the beach for the perfect seashells to embellish the lamp shade they found at the antique shop that day. Molly couldn’t wait to work with Aunt Lilly on the lamp. She always wanted one for her bedroom and now she had the perfect chance.
“Ah-ha! Here’s another one!” Aunt Lilly scooped up another seashell.
Aunt Lilly looked so happy. Molly felt so lucky to have a happy aunt who always did everything she could to give her a happy life. “Aunt Lilly, my friend Allison is never happy anymore.”
“What do you think she is so unhappy about?”
Allison had told Molly about her parents getting a divorce and how her dad had a new girlfriend. “She gets mad that all of her friends have happy families and she doesn’t. Sometimes I feel bad that I am so happy and she’s not.”
“I’m sure Allison has some great things happening in her life that make her happy. Maybe you could remind her of some of them. Does she have a pet?”
Molly nodded before digging out a mussel shell from a pile of seaweed. “She has Benson, a Boxer who is so cute. I tell her that I wished I had a dog, but she just shrugs and finds something else to complain about that she doesn’t have.”
“Does she have many friends?”
“She has more than I do! But, when I tell her this, she says that she still isn’t happy.”
“Sounds like your friend might have a case of the ‘poor me’ syndrome.”
Molly jumped over a rotted log. “How do I cure her?”
Circling around the log, Aunt Lilly said, “You need to help her think of others instead of herself.”
Molly stopped. “How would that help?”
“You know that feeling you got when you gave Suzy your favorite doll when she was sick in the hospital?”
Molly remembered that day easily. She thought Suzy was going to die, but it turned out that she was fine after a few days of medicine. Her doll, Melody, went with her everywhere, but she knew Suzy loved her. So, she gave her to Suzy. “I just remember feeling lucky that I was not sick. I wanted Suzy to feel lucky, too. And, when I gave her Melody, I think she felt extremely lucky.”
“You thought of her before yourself and that gave you a nice feeling, right?”
“Yeah. It sure did.”
Maybe Aunt Lilly was right. Maybe Allison was thinking too much of her own life and that’s why she wasn’t happy. One of the main reasons Allison was so upset lately was because her mom was always crying. Maybe if Allison could make her mom feel better, she would, too.
“You could help Allison find something nice to do for someone.”
Molly knew just the thing. “Let’s invite Allison to help us with our lampshade project. Her mom loves seashells. And Allison loves crafting.”
“But, I thought you really wanted this for your room?”
Molly took a hold of her aunt’s hand, “Aunt Lilly, this isn’t about me anymore.”
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