In this sewing machine lives many stories. I imagine many of you will have one like this or similar that tells a different story.
Pearl is around 💯 years old! Many clothes, curtains and button holes. She lived in NC on the Albermarke Sound for many years. She was the property of a Christian lady named:
Virginia Collin’s Patrick, her tombstone in the graveyard of a little community church reads; “Patrick, Virginia Collins (b.4 Jul 1875 – d. 16 Aug 1946)”
Yes, Virginia has her name on a stain glass window in the church and remembered for her work in starting the church and her life of service to the needy spiritually, as well as home sewn clothes and her farm grown food among other attributes.
A beautiful story and a life well lived and honorably shared. Since Virginia’s life shared here is about her sewing machine I would like to share another story well before hers and when I hear a story about clothes sewn I think it appropriate to share Dorcas aka Tabitha! What do you think about Dorcas?
“Dorcas (Greek: Δορκάς, romanized: Dorkás), or Tabitha (Imperial Aramaic: טביתא/ܛܒܝܬܐ, romanized: Ṭaḇīṯā, lit.‘(female) gazelle’), was an early disciple of Jesus mentioned in the (Acts 9:36–43. She lived in the port city of Joppa, today absorbed by Tel Aviv. Acts describes her as being known for her “good works and acts of mercy”, sewing clothes for the poor. When she died, the widows of her community mourned her and sent urgently for Peter(Acts 9:38), who was in nearby Lydda. As evidence of her charity, they showed him some of the clothes she had sewn, and according to the biblical account he raised her from the dead.”
Let us sew beautiful clothes and sow seeds of kindness, “good works and acts of mercy”. And, don’t forget the “Pearl of Great Price.” (Matthew 13:45-46)
thedailylily.com 
I love seeing the pictures of “Pearl” and hearing about Mrs. Patrick. My paternal grandmother had a similar singer that I currently have and I believe I was told that my dad purchased for her? I’m thinking my grandmother must have enjoyed sewing for my dad to purchase it for her? While I don’t have any particular stories that come to mind about my paternal grandmother and her sewing, I am grateful that I currently have the singer she had. 💚
You have asked what we think of Dorcas and I believe she was a great example for all. She, like Mrs Patrick used her gift of sewing to bless others. We all have a God given gift that we can use to bless others.🙏
Debi, the fruit is vital to life. We read the results of the fruit of Dorcas, “He, Peter raised her up from the dead…” And, then vs 42 gives 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”
The thought of fruit from our labors gives us Eternal life and for many others that hear and believe, they, too, have Eternal life!🙏
I agree, Tammy, we are all surely gifted by God and given opportunity to use our gifts to glorify our Father which is in heaven. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESVhttps://bible.com/bible/59/1co.10.31.ESV
Tammy, love the story of your Dad, Jack Nobles, of Plymouth, NC blessing his lovely Mom with this sewing machine.
I knew your Dad and he lived an exemplary life of service to others.
You are greatly blessed and favored to have this gift and one day share with children and grands. Memories rooted in love bloom forever and this is a forever bloom!
💙
This is a ‘beautiful story’ of Pearl and Virginia Collins Patrick who used this tool to do so much for the Lord. Though she is not on earth anymore, her tool remains as a reminder of all she did.
Regarding Dorcas, I agree with what Tammy wrote, “I believe she was a great example for all. She, like Mrs Patrick used her gift of sewing to bless others”.
In a devotional I read this am by Alistair Begg, he writes concerning Crete, “A careful reading of Titus, and indeed of church history, indicates that the greatest threat to the church emerges from people inside the church who claim to know the Lord but deceive both themselves and others. Paul describes some people within this church as those who “profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.” They had a creed, but their conduct did not match it. They could say the right words, but there was no fruit to be seen in their lives.”
These two women, Virginia Patrick Collins and Dorcas, surely gave evidence that their conduct matched ‘their creed’. And from what I read about the results for each of their works, there was much fruit.