Despite her quiet, soft-spoken nature, Isabelle opened up to our delivery crew: she’d been physically abused by her husband for many years before she left him. With nowhere to go, she found herself homeless, at one point even reduced to returning to her abuser.
Isabelle finally escaped her husband and got her own apartment but she had no furniture. When fleeing abusive situations, women usually don’t have the luxury of taking anything with them. Isabelle led the delivery crew—Jim Orcutt, his nine-year-old grandson Nathan, Stonehill students Nicole Santarsiero, Rachel Smith and me—through her small apartment to an empty bedroom. The only thing we saw was a folding beach chair, her ‘bed’ for the past month.
My Brother’s Keeper often delivers to victims of domestic violence like Isabelle. Sadly, the torment they suffer is not only physical but emotional too. Earlier in life, Isabelle had been a respected artist but she no longer had the self-confidence to paint.
My Brother’s Keeper serves with kindness, dignity, and respect to remind people like Isabelle that they are deserving of God’s love.We delivered our message mainly through our actions, carrying a couch, coffee and end table, lamps, dresser, nightstand, kitchen table and chairs, pots and pans, dishes, and other household items to her second floor apartment.
Best of all, we replaced her beach chair with a brand-new, full-size Tempur-Pedic mattress, foundation, and frame. (see story above) What a joy to move a fragile, suffering soul like Isabelle onto the nicest mattress in the world!
Isabelle sobbed with emotion when she saw her furniture. “I’ve been praying for a new bed for so long,” she finally said in a whisper. “How will I ever repay you?”
We didn’t need any repayment, of course. We told her we’re just the delivery people and gave her a crucifix. “This is the man who sent you the furniture, Isabelle.” She took the cross out of the box and hung it above her artwork in the living room.
That’s when it occurred to her… how she could repay us for our kindness. Isabelle took two beautiful paintings off the wall and gave them to us as a gift.
At My Brother’s Keeper, we never expect repayment but we always humbly accept people’s hospitality and generosity, just as they accept ours. Hopefully our heartfelt appreciation of Isabelle’s gift will help her regain her self-confidence and understand that she is loved. And isn’t that the mission of My Brother’s Keeper?