I’m going back to Portugal soon, for the first time in a long while. I’m reminded of my visit in 2019 and would like to share it with you again…
She made me tear up with this act…
I’m on my way home from an incredible few days in Lisbon with Gerry. We saw and experienced many great things and moments. None greater than what I’m about to tell you. This One Thing will stay with us forever …
On Saturday we took an excursion to visit St. Jorge Castle. At the base of the castle there are many shops and traders, but we went the wrong way and in one corner we saw a little lady wrapped in many layers. She looked about 90 years old. Unlike all the other ‘proper’ sellers, all she had was some really old stuff, a few items that looked like they came from the ‘messy drawer’ of her own home. It was the oldest, pre-used bric-à-brac you could imagine. A number of items, including a comb, an old hand mirror, an old clay pot, a pack of battered looking paper tissues, maybe 30 items spread out on a blanket. She had nothing.
I gestured to Gerry that we must buy something. I didn’t want to just give this lady money, because I sensed it would humiliate her. She was selling, not begging.
I wanted to buy something, just to support her. As we perused her goods, some had prices, some did not, I picked up an item I didn’t really want and asked her “…how much?”
Then she hit me with the love that showed, that whilst she had ‘nothing’ she in fact had Everything. Instead of giving me the cost, in her broken English she simply said ” …I give you, you keep it, you have it. Nothing for you” I had a bundle of Euro’s in my other hand, and she would have seen that. Yet she gave me a gift out of her ‘nothing’. She then smiled and we shared a great hug to us. Though old, she had THE most beautiful face and smile.
We gave thanks to her again and again.
Of course, I gave her the money I had. I put it in her hand and walked away because I knew from her face she was in shock.
But her shock was nothing compared to the impact she had on us. Gerry and I walked away, both moved and with lumps in our throats, but with warmed, gladdened, grateful hearts.
The love she showed two strangers, giving from her nothing, showed that she had EVERYTHING.
As long as we live, we will always remember the old Portuguese lady who had nothing but showed us love, ‘something’ from her ‘nothing’. The greatest gift.
God bless her
Derek x