SHADOWS

Shadows
from a chair
made in Vietnam
with a label
"Produit par Thu".
Who was he?
Or she?
So, of course,
I Googled it.

"Thu" is usually a girl's name
and means "Autumn"
or "Poem".
It set me thinking -
How old is she?
Is she married?
Does she have a family?
Does she work long hours?
How much is she paid?

It's a beautiful chair
and I like to think
that she was paid
a decent amount
so that she can
feed and clothe
her family
and give them all
they need.

I wonder about her
hopes and dreams
and pray
that by buying
this chair
we are helping Thu
to realise them.

The label is still
on the chair
to remind me
that someone
worked hard
to produce this.
Something I take
very much
for granted!

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
   rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
   is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
Proverbs 31 : 17-18
The Message