When I woke up this morning, I had a smile on my face or maybe it would be considered a grin. I thought about something that happened on yesterday that was hilarious and it caused me to wake up with a chuckle and a smile. I thought about my waking up on today and wondered how others woke up this morning. Did we wake up with a smile on our face or were we so overwhelmed with life’s challenges that we were grumpy, frowning, moaning, groaning or moody. If so, may I advise you to start your day over right now. If you start the day off with a smile, I have a feeling your day will end in laughter. Your smile could possibly cause someone else to smile. Not only does smiling make you look happy, it can make you feel happy.    

The one negative thing about wearing a mask during the pandemic has been the inability to see a person’s facial expressions. Some people’s smiles are so welcoming, captivating and illuminating that they get our attention. Natural smiles can be a sign of peace, joy, beauty and happiness. Your smile could possibly cause someone else to smile and even feel better. It is a joy to be around happy and positive people who smile and laugh. I don’t know about you, but those types of people cause me to feel better or at least make me think I feel better. There is a difference in a natural smile and a forced smile. The natural smile is one that captivates you because a person wears it most of the time.  

 I recently read that a study revealed that genuine, intense smiling can be associated with longer life. Well, that is enough to cause us to want to smile more.  Activate those muscles in your face and create a smile and it may cause you to reduce some of your stress and wrinkles in your face, or maybe the opposite. Life is too sweet and too short to walk around with a frown on our faces.

Have you ever been to social events, grocery store, church, cookout, etc. and meet people who are so inviting to the point that they do not have to open their mouth?  At the same time there are those who may make you feel disinviting and cause us to avoid association with them.

One of my personal goals as a pastor has always been when visiting the sick and shut-ins, depressed, bereaved, etc. is to always make them smile or laugh. When I leave the person, I don’t know how they may feel, but I always feel better knowing that something as small as a smile made a person feel better.

The Bible says in Proverbs 15:13, “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face. But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.” Solomon is saying that inner joy, or sadness, is reflected in a person’s face. Let’s make sure we understand that this is common practice and not an absolute rule. The point is simply that our emotions can be displayed in our faces. Try it by being in the company of a love one and smile throughout your conversation. Remember, not a fake smile, but one you cherish and believe your associate or family member will cherish.

When we look at America today, we see so much we could frown about, but it is my hope that God will pour out his spirit on all of us so that our joy might be renewed and restored. The apostle Paul admonishes us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Just the mere fact that we can think about God’s goodness is enough to make us smile and rejoice. Amen!       

My friends, may God continually smile on you! May his love, joy and peace fill your hearts to overflowing! May God bless and keep you always. Keep smiling!  

Not a sermon! Just my thoughts!

Robert Earl Slade, Pastor