A woman at church passed away in her sleep and while I hardly knew her and don’t even know her last name, her life touched mine. I wrote this as a tribute to Marie and have asked my priests to share it with her family. I wanted to share it with all of you as well. Smile, my friends. It changes hearts and lives in ways you’ll never know.
She Wore His Smile
For Marie
I didn’t know her well,
and yet she touched my heart
in a special way.
Each Sunday morning
as I gazed toward the altar
and saw the sunshine gleaming
through the stained glass window
high above my head,
I saw another ray of Son-shine
brightening the darkness
in the smile on her face
as she sang her heart out in choir.
Through that very heart of hers,
Jesus touched my own.
Each time our paths crossed
There was always that same smile . . .
a pat on the arm . . .
and the glow of her Lord
encouraging me,
blessing me,
lifting me up.
I cannot truly be sad
that she went to sleep
one last time
for I know that when she awakened
she was smiling at her Jesus
face to face.
By Martha L Shaw
