As we continue our discussion of sympathy cards, what to say, where to find the words, I immediately thought of our dear friend, Mary McManus. Mary is one of our very special friends at Moon Moo and You – The Collective Wisdom. Mary’s sweet and gentle spirit, firm determination and motivation, and positive attitude are always such a joy! I asked Mary to tell us more about her very personal sympathy cards. I do hope you will visit Mary’s site and review more of her beautiful and heartfelt work. And again, thank you, Mary!

Here’s Mary:

I am so blessed that God has given me the gift of poetry to help people express the words in their heart. After being diagnosed with post polio syndrome in December 2006, at the age of 53, the gift blossomed within me. I left my full time career as a social worker to heal my life and to create New World Greeting Cards. I combine my 25 years of having worked as a social worker with my gift of poetry to help people process what they are feeling and together we create healing, loving messages in times of illness and loss. I have been blessed to write keepsake poems to help weave together memories of a loved one who has made their transition. It can be part of a funeral program or be placed in a frame as a treasured keepsake. I can be your Cyrano de Bergerac to create a poetic message that you can write in your own hand or create a card with the poem inside and you can add a personal message. Special occasions can be painful when a loved one is not there to share it with the family. I recently wrote a poem for a bride as a tribute to her dad to be put in her wedding program so that his presence would be felt on her special day.

Here is a sample of an In Memoriam poem: (I shared my recollections about this wonderful man and the family told me what they wanted me to capture about him. I read it at his funeral and so many people asked us for copies after the service)

The day that I first met you, some 20 years ago
I thought you were a general
“That’s my name,” you’d let me know.
I was a worker at the VA, and you were ‘newly blind’
And with every challenge you would face
Great courage you would find.

You were a champion at bowling, though the pins you couldn’t see
And a champion for veterans
BVA’s own deputy.
Despite those chronic headaches and the weakness and the pain
You’d travel and do all the work
And rarely would complain.

A devoted, loving husband – kind in spirit – gentle touch
Adoring father, son and grandpa
Family always meant so much.
Although our hearts are aching – Your Spirit now flies free
To be a guardian angel
For all eternity.

And although you’re not a general, I salute you from my heart
Feeling blessed for having known you
As from this world you now depart.
Your family will go forward, knowing you are now at peace
All the suffering that you endured
Now at last can cease.

God bless you on your journey, we will miss your gentle voice
It was time for God to call you home
We know you had no choice.
Your legacy of character, humble faithful true
Shall endure for generations
A light that’s shining through!

To see more samples for healing/condolence poems visit: http://www.newworldgreetings.com/portfolio/healing
To learn more about New World Greeting Cards and see the portfolio of poems for all occasions you can visit www.newworldgreetings.com

Thank you so much Joan for allowing me to share my gift with your readers.