Heaven’s aftersmile

Got a fun question over the weekend from a site visitor named Carol:

Just wondering what your thoughts are regarding Mrs. Eddy's meaning of the words "When heaven's aftersmile earth's tear-drops gain."

This of course is a line from Mary Baker Eddy’s Mother’s Evening Prayer, a comforting poem that compares mother love to the watchful care a bird takes with her nestling. The final verse reads:

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven's aftersmile earth's tear-drops gain,
And mother finds her home and heav'nly rest.

So, keeping in mind we’re dealing with bird imagery here, I picture a mother bird with her wings spread over her little ones in a nest, protecting them from the snare and fowler, etc.

Earth’s tear-drops I see as a rainfall, and heaven’s aftersmile as a rainbow. So even the tears bring a glowing radiance that uplifts and blesses.

Have you ever seen a young child’s brilliant smile right when you cheer them up after they’ve been weeping over a broken toy? That’s the kind of aftersmile I picture here. Eyes may be wet with tears, but irrepressible joy breaks through.

And I believe that’s what Eddy means here. Earthliness — materiality — may get our attention for a time, yet it is our disappointment with earth that draws our eyes heavenward, and we see the rainbow of God’s spiritual promise to care for us always. Our earthly troubles always point us Spiritward, and we find that “heav’nly rest” waiting for us.

What does that line mean to you?

Your ideas and inspiration are welcome! Please comment below or Contact Laura.
Email this posting to a friend with the envelope icon below.

Del.icio.us tags:

• Poetry
• WorkingWithWords
• Encouragement