By: proudlymimi.near
Mimi
Once there was a young woman named MarmaJ. She came from a poor family. MarmaJ was known in her community to be a cheerful giver and helper to everyone even though she and her family didn’t have much to spend. MarmaJ would always find a means to help everyone around her who was in need. One day, she went to her father’s farm to harvest some maize to sell at the market square. She saw an old woman who was sitting by the road shivering and weak. MarmaJ moved close to her and asked her what was wrong, The old woman said she was hungry and needed food. MarmaJ wanted to give her some food, but she didn’t even have food for herself as she was just going to the farm, so she continued on her way and promised the woman she would come back soon.
MarmaJ went to her father’s farm and harvested enough maize. The sun beat upon her back through her shirt, and she felt stiff from the repetitive motions, but she worked until she had full sacks. She carried them to the market square, found a buyer, and sold them, making some money. Holding the money in her hand, she looked around quickly – the sun had fallen in the sky and she hoped the woman hadn’t gone home hungry. Drawn in by the smells from a nearby stall, MarmaJ bought some food and water and made her way slowly through the streets, in the general direction of her father’s farm. On the way there, she saw the old woman sitting just as she had been. With a smile of relief, MarmaJ sat down beside her on the packed dirty and gave her food and water. They ate together in silence. After some time had passed, the old woman blessed her, and MarmaJ rose and continued on her way home. Marmaj was always going around doing good.
One day, MarmaJ’s father fell ill, and her family took him to all the hospitals in the community and to all the hospitals outside the community. They gave him different herbs but none could cure him. His sickness continued for weeks and the family felt helpless and sad that they couldn’t help their father. MarmaJ had lost weight and the spring in her step had disappeared under the weight of the burden she carried knowing her father was sick. One day, in her sad mood, MarmaJ began to walk towards the fields of her father’s farm. She was lost in thought and didn’t notice or hear an old woman calling out to her from the side of the road. The woman called again, “Hello young lady!” MarmaJ heard and looked back and saw the old woman. The old woman had heard of the troubles in MarmaJ’s family and she smiled at the young woman and said, “you helped me when I was down and weak, and I will help you and your father. Have faith that he will be well again and you will be happy. Come with me.”
MarmaJ held the old woman tightly, but then softened her embrace, noticing how slight her body was and they walked arm-in-arm down the road toward the center of the community where the old woman lived in a small hut.
The light was dim in the hut, but MarmaJ could make out jars and bowls of herbal remedies. As the woman put what she needed into a bag, MarmaJ tidied the hut, sweeping the floor and shaking out the woman’s bedding. When the bag was filled, the old woman instructed MarmaJ to make a tea and administer this tea until her father’s strength returned.
In the failing light, MarmaJ ran home and prepared the tea. Within a day, her father’s eyes began to clear. Within three days, he was able to stand unassisted, and he was soon hale and hearty again. And the family was happy. MarmaJ began to smile again, and the community was all the more beautiful for her smile.
MarmaJ returned to visit the old woman many times, bringing her food and spending time with her. The old woman encouraged MarmaJ to keep doing good, to keep spreading love and positivity to those around her. The two became friends and could often be seen together, walking slowly and stately on the streets, arm-in-arm.