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Enduring Influence

August 3, 2012 by paula Leave a Comment

This short essay, written in 2007 as a scholarship entry,  is a tribute to Francis L. Smith, better known to all as, “Jewel”. She was my mother-in-law, “mom”, friend, – but most importantly, my inspiration.

My decision to continue a tradition wasn’t conscious; my prerequisite of leaving others happier than I found them wasn’t my creation. These principles were handed down to me – not on purpose, surely not by accident – by my mother-in-law, “Jewel”.

My first impression of Jewel was duplicated every time I witnessed her; her influence was patience, grace and mercy. Jewel rarely complained: her commitment was responsible and sincere. I immediately realized that I wanted to be near someone like this and I later envisioned myself in her “role” – enabling others to feel as comfortable and accepted as I had.

I was 18 years old when I met Jewel. Her generous smile and easy nature immediately captured my attention. During my first visit, Jewel and I looked at old pictures of her son -my future-husband – and talked about Jewel’s family while we shared cold, sweet tea. I found myself both solaced and delighted by her words and soothing manner.

Jewel’s patient words were rivaled only by her attentiveness: I knew that anything I had to say would be acknowledged, believed and accepted. In Jewel’s world, advice was given only when requested; criticism and negativity didn’t exist. Many times, after talking with Jewel about one of my “horrible” problems, I could leave her house – enlightened and “lightened”, laughing as I walked through her screen door.

My mother-in-law, “my Jewel”, passed away just last year; missing her has not become any easier. I miss the compassion, approval, laughter and examples that Jewel gave me.

Jewel resides in those examples. The “tradition” is now mine.

 

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: compassion, inspiration, mom, mother, screen door, sweet tea, sympathy

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Joy

…We are all born with it–Joy. We exude enough of it as children to fill all the adult hearts in any room. We’ve no need to be taught how to smile on a sunny Saturday morning, dance in muddy spring puddles, delight as a butterfly alights on our noses. Joy is our birthright–our spiritual birthmark.

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