I watched this 94-year-old Hmong woman meticulously paint her designs on the fabric in front of her with a hand that had undoubtedly done this thousands of times. She and the other ladies of the village developed an intricate way of creating purses, tapestries, and clothing out of the hemp plants that grow all throughout the fields around them. They collect the hemp, split it, weave it together, soften it, and form beautiful pieces that they sell or give to those in need. The process takes days to make just one item. As I spoke with the women in my broken Vietnamese, I learned about the detailed care they put into the process they repeated every single day.

There was so much running through my mind as I left the women to continue their work: Don’t they get tired of doing the same thing over and over? Is it worth the hours of painstaking labor for the outcome, as beautiful as it may be?

And of course the big one: Has anyone told these wonderful people about their Savior? Their Savior thoughtfully formed each of these women with his own hands. Their Savior won for them spiritual clothing that only he was worthy to wear. Their Savior loved them enough to leave his throne and give his life that they may wear the robe of righteousness and stand confidently in front of the King on the Last Day.

By God’s grace, through faith in Jesus, their Savior is our Savior too.

“In embroidered garments she is led to the king” (Psalm 45:14).

This article received the 2024 Thalassa prize from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.

Learn more about Thalassa at mlc-wels.edu/thalassa.

Author: Emily Rider
Volume 112, Number 01
Issue: January 2025