Smile

*True story from a relative*

As I was filling my work truck up with gas at Casey's one afternoon, I saw a familiar christian woman walking out to her car after paying for her gas.  She looked as if she carried the whole world on her shoulders, and didn't seem the least bit joyful.  Avoiding eye contact, she passed a man from town who most folks knew as the man who spoke his mind and didn't mind what other's thought.  As he was passing the young christian women, I heard him bellow, "Hey. SMILE! Life really is NOT that bad!"  I had to smirk, knowing at how true his statement was towards her.  But then I felt a wave of sadness wash over me.  As a christian myself, I had to step back and look at how I carried myself and what image I was giving others in my daily walk.  Do people see me as a joyful, peaceful, and radient christian who is willingly serving Christ from the bottom of my heart, spreading His love to those around me? Or a staunch, stern-faced, and unfriendly person too concerned with things of this life to pay any mind to those around me who may need a smile or word of encouragment? 
 
The Bible commands us to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). And if any man love God, (which is His first commandment) the same is known of him (1 Corinthians 8:3).  Therefore, that love must be reflected in our daily life, because God's love is unending.  Christ commands us to be joyful (John 15:11), that our joy may be full.  Not to mention that joy is a fruit of the spirit as well as love. And Philippians tells us to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.  That's when I realized that God commands us to love, to be joyful, to rejoice in Him ALWAYS.  Not just when we're having a good day, or when we are around people that are easy to love.  These are hourly commandments that we must not take lightly.  We are to let our light shine before men, and what better way to start than with a smile!

The attitude you're carrying right now will spread to somebody else today. If you're joyful, you'll lift their spirits. If you're angry, you'll infect them with negative feelings. The Bible tells us to exhort one another, to hold fast to our faith, and to spread abroad the love of God with overflowing hearts.

I challenge you to give a smile to everyone you meet today.  If you're in line at the grocery store, ask the check-out lady how they're doing.  If you're working with a parient, give them a word of encouragement. Or just give them a true, genuine smile. Whoever you meet, whatever the situation, make sure you're attitude will positively infect them.
Smiles are the most contagious emotional signal of all, having an almost irresistible power to make others smile in return.
~ Daniel Goleman