Rebekah’s Smile II

Kelly Clarke
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Well, I promised Rebekah I'd put a tune to “Rebekah's Smile,” the poem I wrote her last year for her 25th birthday.  You might recall she asked me about it after Kelly and I sang to her on her 26th birthday.

But I couldn't come up with a tune, and then Rebekah's dad, Fr. John, told me that some of his parishioners at St. Francis, Janie Stein and Martin Bates, were working on putting the poem to music, so I desisted my efforts to see what came of theirs.

A few Sundays ago they were ready to debut the song, so I trundled over to College Station for the morning service, which was delightful.  (If you ever have a chance to hear Fr. John preach on the gospel according to Charlotte's Web, don't miss it!)
After the service and before falling upon the Second Sunday potluck, Janie and the choir passed out copies of the words to Rebekah's Smile.  Rebekah stood, smiling of course, as they began.
Soon there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd.  By the end of the song, Rebekah had been overcome herself and burst into tears, but they were happy tears and Mom Rita and sister Sarah quickly set things right.

This was Janie and Martin's last Sunday at St. Francis, so the congregation wrapped them in a beautiful woven prayer shawl to comfort and protect them as they make their way to Colorado, where they will visit their kids and love on their grandkids for a few months.

I got the music from Janie for the song, and Rebekah's been asking me to sing it for everybody at the Ranch, which I will do soon.

In the meantime, just in case you're interested, here are the words of the song:

                            Rebekah's Smile

Rebekah's smile lights up the world and seems to say,
That everything that worries you will be okay.
Today her laughter fills the sky with happy song,
And if the storm clouds come, it's not for long.

            Rebekah's smile, I wouldn't trade it for the world,
           Not for diamonds, not for gold, or even pearls.
           It breaks like dawn that comes after the night,
           A blessing setting every trouble somehow right.

She runs to throw her arms around you, glad you're there.
Though other people now and then will stop and stare.
I don't know just what they're thinking when they see
How love can be so simple and so free.

          Rebekah's smile, I wouldn't trade it for the world,
          Not for diamonds, not for gold, or even pearls.
          It breaks like dawn that comes after the night,
         A blessing setting every trouble somehow right

You know, the world could learn a thing or two,
From gentle souls who only care that you are you.
You might never win a prize, or make a fortune big or small,
But if you're Rebekah's friend, you've got it all.