The Power of a Smile
By Teri Dorrell
We often view smiling as an extra quality that some people are born with or are more apt to do, but for the Christian, smiling is our testimony, our light to this dark world. It can be a blessing to those around us in many ways.
Smiles help us have the right attitudes even when life and circumstances are hard. Have you ever tried to be upset or angry and smile at the same time? As a child, my father and mother used to drill into me, “Smile whether you feel like it or not, and your feelings will follow.” Those words may seem simple and shallow, but the effects were very deep. How true it was and still is today. One of my favorite verses is Nehemiah 8:10b, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” God is so good to His children - how can we not smile? Focus on all He has done for you.
Smiles are contagious and help those around us. I am constantly amazed at the power of a smile.
The Smile Starter!
Smiling is infectious; You catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner, and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized, I’d passed it to him.
I thought about that smile, then I realized its worth.
A single smile just like mine, could travel the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!
You may move others from sadness to gladness if you carry your cross with a smile.
Best of all, smiles are a testimony of God’s love within us. A smile tells of a thankful heart! Can you see David frowning when he penned Psalm 106:1, “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever!” Or the Apostle Paul in I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Smiling speaks of a trusting heart. We often fret, losing our smile and forgetting that God is the blessed controller of all things. He just simply says for us to trust! “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8).
O thou of little faith, God hath not failed thee yet!
When all looks dark and gloomy, thou dost so soon forget –
Forget that He has led thee, and gently cleared thy way;
On clouds has poured His sunshine, and turned thy night to day.
And if He’s helped thee hitherto, He will not fail thee now;
How it must wound His loving heart to see thy anxious brow!
Oh! Doubt not any longer, to Him commit thy way,
Whom in the past thou trusted, and is just the same today.
Do not underestimate the power of a smile. Bless someone else today with it. Through good and bad times, let it tell others of the hope and love that lie within you. And if someone just happens to notice your smile, make sure to give credit to the Lord.
Trust Him with everything; Begin today,
and find the joy that comes when Jesus has His way!
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1a).