by Richard Maffeo
Walking with Him, we live on the
rich dividends that come in His com-
pany. Seeking first His kingdom
SHMILY
becomes our primary priority. As we
continue our journey, we eagerly
and
await His future return while encour-
aging all who will to join us.
We no longer await an uncertain
Calvary
future when Christ will bind Satan
and cast him into the fiery pit. Rather,
we live in a victorious present as we every morning to church. She often whis-
celebrate His counseling, comforting pered to her grandchildren how good-look-
presence. ing her husband was, and that she “knew
Following the liberation of Rome I
T’S EASY TO FIND the story of
SHMILY. Laura Jeanne Allen pub-
lished the anecdote of her grand-
parents’ mysterious word in a 1999 how to pick ’em.” When her strength
during World War II, an Army chap- Chicken Soup for the Couple’s Soul. Since waned and forced her to remain indoors,
lain prepared for a special memorial then, SHMILY—an acronym for “See How Andrew painted their room yellow so she
service. Taking note, a young Ameri- Much I Love You”—has raced across the could feel surrounded by sunshine. When
can GI begged the chaplain to world through the power of the Internet. the cancer finally took her life, the family
announce the soldier’s presence in the During their 50 years of marriage, gathered for the funeral where, to no one’s
service. He explained that he left Italy Andrew and Alice McAndrew’s love for surprise, they saw Grandpa’s final love
10 years before and moved to Ameri- each other took expression in hundreds message written on the pink ribbons of the
ca. He had not seen his mother during of ways. They stole gentle kisses in the funeral bouquet: SHMILY.
that time, but he knew she would be kitchen, held hands at every opportunity, One of my favorite Scripture passages
present in the service. and spoke their devotion to each other is from the Book of Isaiah: “Can a mother
The chaplain, not being in charge, with their eyes. They attended church ser- forget the baby at her breast and have no
could not honor the request. Howev- vices every morning to meet with God, compassion on the child she has borne?
er, he directed the young soldier, whom they knew to be the source of their Though she may forget, I will not forget
“When I am introduced, you stand love. They bowed their heads before each you! See, I have engraved you on the
beside me. I am sure your mother will meal, acknowledging Him as the source palms of my hands” (49:15-16, NIV).
recognize you.” of their sustenance. Most people who have seen a photo of
Following the chaplain’s instruc- Like many couples who have lived Christ on the cross know of the placard
tions, the anxious soldier stood silent- together for many years, they could end placed by Pontius Pilate above our Lord’s
ly beside the chaplain. A cry of recog- each other’s sentences, sense one anoth- head (John 19:19-22). It holds the acronym
nition went up, and a tiny woman in er’s moods, and meet each other’s needs INRI—the first letters of the Latin phrase,
the audience jumped up and ran before those needs were even spoken. “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
toward the platform. Mutual belief in For the greater part of their half-centu- When I first heard about SHMILY, my
the God of Easter dramatically reunit- ry together, Andrew and Alice passed See- imagination framed for me the two lovers
ed this mother and son after 10 years How-Much-I-Love-You messages to each who had grown old together, who deeply
of separation. other like a sacred game of tag. They left cherished each other, and now one suf-
What appeared in Bethlehem as a notes scrawled with SHMILY on dash- fered the loss of his life-mate. Then, a
gleam of hope became a vision of real- boards and car seats, under pillows, and moment later, my mind’s eye turned in
ity when God revealed Himself traced in the fireplace ashes. They wrote another direction. It was there I saw our
through the resurrected Christ. In His the word in the steam left on the mirror Savior. I saw His hands nailed to the cross
company, we discover God’s best for after a hot shower, and carved it into bars beams, His feet to the wood, the crown of
us—both here and hereafter. The of soap. Once, Alice unrolled an entire thorns pressed into His forehead. And
promises of the prophets became a liv- roll of toilet paper and wrote the word on above His head, I saw the inscription on
ing presence in Jesus. Easter reveals the last sheet. the placard: SHMILY.
the unending victory in which Satan During their last 10 years together,
has no tomorrow. breast cancer hung above their heads like a Richard Maffeo writes from
dark and ominous cloud. But the disease Gig Harbor, Washington, with
Wayne M. Warner gives us an insight- couldn’t cast a shadow on their love for gratitude for how much our
ful look at the hope of Easter. He writes each other. She held onto her husband’s Savior loves us—so much that
from Battle Creek, Michigan. steady hand as they continued their walk He willingly died in our place.
EVANGEL • MAR 2008 21
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40