A Woman Named Sylvia

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This took place almost 40 years ago. I was reminded of it when I read a discussion by @BearArtistLady about Santa came early. I was attending a weeklong church event with my husband and two young children (2 years and 6 months). The last day I was on my own with the children. My teenage brother was to give me a ride home that evening...so almost everything had gone home with my husband the night before. Some days, parenting can be overwhelming. At lunch my six month old had an unfortunate encounter with tomato juice....now she was in her sleeper...the only clothing she had that was clean. Midafternoon....the two year old had an accident...diarrhea. It was foul..it was profuse....it was everywhere. She had no clean clothes...everything was dirty. I had my hands full with a cranky baby and now this. In stepped Sylvia....truly an angel that day. She brought my two year old to a the mothers room and washed her down. She had to clean her own clothing as well. Then she went to the tiny boutique next to the convention center and purchased a new outfit for my daughter...everything from the skin out. She would not accept anything for her kindness. I never knew anything else about her...but that day she was a shining star for me. When I insisted that she needed something...she told me to pay it forward (long before this was a common phrase). She told me someday I would see someone who needed a helping hand due to circumstances beyond their control. When that time came...I should just do what needed to be done and move on. Over the years....I often came home with less supplies than I left with...because someone needed something I could supply. This debt can never be repaid....but often when I see a young mom or dad, with their hands full I remember a woman named Sylvia.