Friendship Bracelets Display the Strength of Human Spirit
This week’s edition of Looking on the Bright Side takes us on a journey of hope and creativity, as we introduce you to Ruby Garcia and the remarkable story behind her handcrafted tokens of love and pain. Here’s that story.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
Friendship bracelets hold deep significance as enduring symbols of connection, love, and support. These handcrafted tokens represent the beauty of friendship, reminding both the giver and receiver of the bonds that unite them. They serve as tangible expressions of caring, shared memories, and the enduring power of human connections. At the Open Door Believers Chapel, friendship is the theme of this month’s Girl Group conversation.
Michelle Andrews
Michelle Andrews, Counselor, Open Door Believers Chapel (Girls Group)
“For this month in October, we decided to base our girls club on friendship. So the committee, when we were planning it, we were talking about an activity that maybe we can do with the girls, and we scrolled Facebook Marketplace, and we came across Miss Dilcia Garcia in Orange Walk. Um, we contacted her, almost immediately she responded to us and told us about bracelets that she made.”
Dilcia Garcia isn’t the creator of the bracelets; rather, she is the mother of twenty-four-year-old Ruby Garcia, who set out to transform her hobby into a business. Two days after they had placed their order, the chapel’s members discovered that the bracelets held a meaning far deeper than the one they initially intended to convey.
Michelle Andrews
“When we went over to Orange Walk to pick up these bracelets, we discovered that she had a form of illness. Um, while that may have been sad, it was very inspirational to us to know that someone who’s suffering from illness, um, sickness, still makes an effort to do a business and to serve the Lord as well.”
Ruby is diminutive. At just four foot tall, her growth is stunted because of medication. She was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the age of eight, a significant turning point in her quality of life.
Sabreena Daly
“What is the most challenging part of you living as normal as possible with this sickness?”
Ruby Garcia
Ruby Garcia, Diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
“Everything, basically. It’s hard to wake up in the morning and have pain, trying to move around. I used to be able to walk, but now I can’t. It’s hard for me. When did you stop walking? Um…When the prednisone was taken off. But it had to be taken off. Because if not, I would have died quickly. Because of the damage to my organs.”
Dilcia recounts learning of her daughter’s sickness.
Dilcia Garcia
Dilcia Garcia, Mother (Translated)
“They sent me to a specialized center for children with cancer. They thought it was cancer, but then the doctor ran many tests on her and it turned out that she had arthritis.”
Ruby relies on a support aid to carry out basic movements, experiencing discomfort with every action. Her usual spots include her bed, the bathroom, and sitting at her mother’s dinner table, all because of her limited mobility. But with considerable effort, she discovered a new pastime.
Sabreena Daly
“Where did you learn how to do these?”
Ruby Garcia
“YouTube.”
Sabreena Daly
“And what drew you to this type of craft?”
Ruby Garcia
“Oh, I like arts and crafts, creating stuff. Like, I also crochet.”
Sabreena Daly
“How long did this take you to do?”
Ruby Garcia
“It depends. Like if I’m doing something, it will take me like three days. But if I’m doing just little stuff, it takes me two days.”
I volunteered to help Ruby with a batch of twelve friendship bracelets she recently received an order for. She shared that crafting has been a source of solace for her, providing a distraction from the constant pain she experiences.
Ruby Garcia
“It distracts me. My mind is like, um, on this bracelet, I’m home making it, um, the process of it. And I’m not thinking about the pain that I suffered.”
Sabreena Daly
“Are you always in pain?”
Ruby
“24/7”
Sabreena
“Where do you feel the pain
Ruby Garcia
“Everywhere. It’s mostly in the joints though. So, I can’t move a specific way because I hurt myself.”
Learning of Garcia’s ailment became an even bigger message to the girl group at Open Door Believers Chapel. Andrews shared that they were all moved by Ruby’s resilience.
Michelle Andrews
“Sometimes you don’t think about that part of life, about people who have, um, weaknesses that they can’t fully perform in society. But to see that this young lady still gave her talents to us and to God, they were really inspired by that and we hope that it boosts their spirits that they can have a more zeal for the Lord.”
In a world of challenges and adversity, Ruby’s unyielding determination to find solace in her own pain and spread joy to others has become the very essence of her creations. Opening their purchases, customers aren’t just receiving a product; they’re embracing a piece of Ruby’s enduring spirit. Ultimately, it’s a gentle reminder that even during life’s toughest challenges, there’s beauty in finding comfort in one’s self and radiating positivity. Ruby’s journey stands as a powerful testament to the strength of optimism, and her work serves as a compelling call to see the brighter side of life. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.
