‘Smiley’

Smiley is the nickname I often call my wife, who is my best friend. Every time I meet her, before ever a word is spoken, I know she is glad to see me and that she cares about me. Why? Because of the beautiful radiance of her smile!

For me, one of the ways I sense God or become aware of His presence in my life is through other people. Smiling is part of that awareness. Smiles spell love, compassion, generosity, kindness, warmth, reliability, patience and real love. God’s Love.

God’s Love is not just romantic love, it’s much more than that, it is a never-ending series of positive, creative, affirming, challenging, forgiving, healing and protecting feelings and actions whose purposes are to promote our sense of well-being for ourselves, and others and helps us to be aware of how God feels lovingly and warmly towards us.

Smiles

A smile is a part of that purpose and is a powerful means of communication. It is made up, not only of parted lips, but also of eyes, which sparkle or weep, eyes which are full of tenderness, acceptance, humour, forgiveness, love and compassion.

Many people speak the language of smiles, especially children. I remember the smiles on orphaned and abandoned children in Africa recently and the unspoken words of love and appreciation in their smiles is a memory I will never forget.

Smiles transform the faces of all people, giving them charm, grace and a beautiful radiance. Such smiles portray the presence of love. They pour into others a portion of that love. Love changes people and it encourages them. So let us remember that love comes from God and that God’s Love, similarly, pours courage and strength into us. That is why it is important to realise that God’s Love smiles on us. As we soak up the love of God like couples in love, we lose our absorption with self and look towards the other.

There is a saying that goes, ‘A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive it, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of if lasts forever. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as no one needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.’

Another saying or poem that my Nana Scully kept in her prayer book when she was alive reads, ‘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 realised I’d passed it on to him. I thought about that smile then I realised its worth. A single smile, just like mine could travel round 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!’

Thought for the week

As your thought for this week, see what your smile does for you. You might find that you should smile more often and that the power of a smile will do wonders for you and for others.