| June Featured Article |
| Lighttomylamp@live.com |
SAD, BUT BEAUTIFUL
By
Margaret A. Marshall
“Some things in life are too beautiful to be forgotten, but there can also be something in
death that is too beautiful to be forgotten,” said Fulton J. Sheen in the book, LIFE OF
CHRIST.
Contemplating the funeral services for an acquaintance, who had touched my soul, I thought
about the good deeds John had offered the community. I knew he loved horses. I heard
how he always made time for prayer. I knew of his offerings to help others in the time of
need. I knew of his sufferings before he passed away. But then, someone put a damper on
my thoughts as she proclaimed, “He wasn’t always so good!”
Choosing Bishop Sheen’s book seemed to be a grace given for it seemed to help me see
things so clearly. Sheen said, “There is never the Cross without the Resurrection: the ‘Hour’
in which evil has mastery passes quickly into the ‘Day; where God is Victor.”
Now I rejoiced and thought, “Hope is our helpline. I thought about a prayer I say every
evening, “Lord, I fear all things in my weakness, but I hope for all things in your
goodness….” I quickly recalled another that I hadn’t prayed for a while, “Lord, Relying on
your infinite power and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, thy help of thy grace
and life everlasting. Amen”
I sobbed during the funeral. Of course I asked myself, “Why?” I only knew John from
church, but I realized that the world would be missing him. One less good old soul walking
the earth but now he would be in heaven doing good work.
The Gospel told of the Father’s love for His Son and Christ’s desire for His love to be in our
hearts and in our lives. I thought about Father Mike’s story about the man who was given
jewels on loan but was so sad when he had to return them. What a Jewel John was. One
could sense John’s love for his fellow human being.
But why did grief strike me so profoundly? I hardly knew the man. I felt comfortable with
him. I even had called him when I was researching how horses communicate. He wrote
something for me without any hesitation. When he learned that I like western clothing, he
offered me a catalog. When he finally sold his horses because of his poor health, I could see
the sadness on his face.
I could also see his love of the Lord. He attended daily Mass along with his wife, Shirley. He
stayed for coffee and donuts after Mass to visit with other parishioners. He knew why he
was on this earth. I wonder how many of us realize our mission. How many of us worry
about our own feelings and dealings without appreciating the impression we leave with
others.
His life and death left me with sadness and thinking about my own struggles. In fact, I
recently fought with sliding into desolation because my mission to distribute my self-published
books ran into a little snag. The bindings loosened and I had to have them replaced which
led me to travel over three hundred miles replacing the majority of those I had distributed to
book stores. I found that one of the book stores had the books so concealed that I couldn’t
find them when I sought them out. My thoughts turned toward thoughts of, “Why bother?”
I called a friend who I knew would listen to my troubles. I grieved for John, but now realize
that the tears may have been for myself. We always miss those who make a difference, then
slowly remember we are here to make a difference too. Even though St. Peter denied
knowing Jesus, the Lord forgave him. Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?” Peter answered,
“Yes Lord, I love you.”
I can hear John saying, “Lord, I love you!”
“Jesus, I too love you and want to feed your lambs!”
After the funeral, I approached a woman who had purchased a number of my first
publication. She didn’t recognize me, but I reintroduced myself and told her about my latest
children’s book. She and her husband purchased ten books. The following day, I sold two
more. Can I continue my mission to spread God’s word, even when met with a challenge?
Jesus said to the women who wept for Him, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
no, weep for yourselves and your children. Bishop Sheen writes, “…the women were told not
to have misplaced sorrow; let them look to their souls, their children, their city. He needed
no tears, they did.”
Yes, I needed to shed those tears. I needed to realize my life has a purpose. I needed to
realize that I need to be a part of life on earth so that when I leave someone will say I am
glad I knew Margaret Marshall and will look inside and say, “What can I do to fulfill my
destiny.
John, I’m glad I knew you!
By
Margaret A. Marshall
“Some things in life are too beautiful to be forgotten, but there can also be something in
death that is too beautiful to be forgotten,” said Fulton J. Sheen in the book, LIFE OF
CHRIST.
Contemplating the funeral services for an acquaintance, who had touched my soul, I thought
about the good deeds John had offered the community. I knew he loved horses. I heard
how he always made time for prayer. I knew of his offerings to help others in the time of
need. I knew of his sufferings before he passed away. But then, someone put a damper on
my thoughts as she proclaimed, “He wasn’t always so good!”
Choosing Bishop Sheen’s book seemed to be a grace given for it seemed to help me see
things so clearly. Sheen said, “There is never the Cross without the Resurrection: the ‘Hour’
in which evil has mastery passes quickly into the ‘Day; where God is Victor.”
Now I rejoiced and thought, “Hope is our helpline. I thought about a prayer I say every
evening, “Lord, I fear all things in my weakness, but I hope for all things in your
goodness….” I quickly recalled another that I hadn’t prayed for a while, “Lord, Relying on
your infinite power and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, thy help of thy grace
and life everlasting. Amen”
I sobbed during the funeral. Of course I asked myself, “Why?” I only knew John from
church, but I realized that the world would be missing him. One less good old soul walking
the earth but now he would be in heaven doing good work.
The Gospel told of the Father’s love for His Son and Christ’s desire for His love to be in our
hearts and in our lives. I thought about Father Mike’s story about the man who was given
jewels on loan but was so sad when he had to return them. What a Jewel John was. One
could sense John’s love for his fellow human being.
But why did grief strike me so profoundly? I hardly knew the man. I felt comfortable with
him. I even had called him when I was researching how horses communicate. He wrote
something for me without any hesitation. When he learned that I like western clothing, he
offered me a catalog. When he finally sold his horses because of his poor health, I could see
the sadness on his face.
I could also see his love of the Lord. He attended daily Mass along with his wife, Shirley. He
stayed for coffee and donuts after Mass to visit with other parishioners. He knew why he
was on this earth. I wonder how many of us realize our mission. How many of us worry
about our own feelings and dealings without appreciating the impression we leave with
others.
His life and death left me with sadness and thinking about my own struggles. In fact, I
recently fought with sliding into desolation because my mission to distribute my self-published
books ran into a little snag. The bindings loosened and I had to have them replaced which
led me to travel over three hundred miles replacing the majority of those I had distributed to
book stores. I found that one of the book stores had the books so concealed that I couldn’t
find them when I sought them out. My thoughts turned toward thoughts of, “Why bother?”
I called a friend who I knew would listen to my troubles. I grieved for John, but now realize
that the tears may have been for myself. We always miss those who make a difference, then
slowly remember we are here to make a difference too. Even though St. Peter denied
knowing Jesus, the Lord forgave him. Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?” Peter answered,
“Yes Lord, I love you.”
I can hear John saying, “Lord, I love you!”
“Jesus, I too love you and want to feed your lambs!”
After the funeral, I approached a woman who had purchased a number of my first
publication. She didn’t recognize me, but I reintroduced myself and told her about my latest
children’s book. She and her husband purchased ten books. The following day, I sold two
more. Can I continue my mission to spread God’s word, even when met with a challenge?
Jesus said to the women who wept for Him, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
no, weep for yourselves and your children. Bishop Sheen writes, “…the women were told not
to have misplaced sorrow; let them look to their souls, their children, their city. He needed
no tears, they did.”
Yes, I needed to shed those tears. I needed to realize my life has a purpose. I needed to
realize that I need to be a part of life on earth so that when I leave someone will say I am
glad I knew Margaret Marshall and will look inside and say, “What can I do to fulfill my
destiny.
John, I’m glad I knew you!
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