Memories by Sheila Johnson

 On the day my blog comes out - 12 January - I will be at the funeral of a dear friend, Shirley. Shirley was like a Christian mother to me, and together with her husband, Gerald (who died years ago at an early age), they encouraged and supported me wonderfully. They were both on the top table for Angus' and my wedding in September 1987, indeed, Gerald gave the speech in leu of my father, who had died earlier.

In many ways I am relieved that Shirley died. She was 91 and full of years and faith but had sadly suffered from dementia for the last five years or so. Latterly, she didn't even know who I was if I telephoned her home to speak to her. But Shirley never lost her strong faith, a faith that she was never afraid to share with anyone she met. I met them both while working in the Operation Mobilisation bookshop in London.

That special smile

Shirley, in particular, always faced life with a smile. She didn't have an easy life as a child during the war years, or later looking after her elderly mother faithfully after Shirley suffered several miscarriages and eventually childlessness, but she was someone who would laugh through her tears. Even if she tripped or fell over she would just laugh and pick herself up and could always see the ridiculous in every situation. 

I remember once in the bookshop a customer came in looking for 'mass' cards, obviously for the Catholic mass, but in my ignorance I heard 'mouse' cards and proceeded to show her every card in the shop featuring a picture of mice as Shirley roared with laughter in the background.

Shirley never travelled far. She and Gerald didn't have much money on mission but took great pleasure in the small things of life. She especially loved a beautiful sky, a sunrise or a sunset and would regularly comment "Look at the sky", in a strong Liverpudlian accent. 

We lost a number of people in 2021, some like Shirley, people we had been close to. It wasn't a good year for many of us. But perhaps we would do well to just follow a little of Shirley's example and smile through our tears and look up to God.

Sheila Johnson lives in Cheltenham and is a qualified journalist who has written for a number of publications both local and national. She has also written two books under her pen name Sheila Donald, Alpha Male and Waireka. Her website can be found at www.journojohnson.com