Smile

Not too long ago, I was walking downtown.  There was a man sitting in the grass by the sidewalk.  He looked a little discouraged or maybe depressed.  He cordially nodded.  I smiled and asked him, "How are you doing?"  He told me he was blessed.  Then with a smile he said, "Ma'am, thank you for smiling. You are the first person that smiled at me today."  It was almost noon and this was a busy street.  I don't know how long he had been sitting there, but nobody in passing had smiled at him all day. This man had been hungry for someone, anyone, to notice him.

Sometimes we are too caught up in our own world to look someone in the eye and bless them by acknowledging them.  A smile is simple, it doesn't hurt, and it is free, and it feels good to give.  Passing on a smile can be contagious.  Can you afford to give the poor, the downcast, the hurting or lonely a smile?  Do you know how much of a reward it gives you?  How much reward in heaven will you get?  I smiled at this man weeks ago, and I am still blessed to know I touched him in some way. 

 When they were discouraged, I smiled and that encouraged them, and lightened their spirits. 

Job 29:24 LVB

When this man told me I was the only person that had smiled at him all day, it reminded me of a story I had heard before of a man that left a note saying he would not jump from the Golden Gate Bridge if someone would smile at him.  He jumped that day.  I found information on this article and others like it on the web. 
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/164/5/720

You will never know what such a small gift might do for a someone in passing.  Give what God has given you- His joy.  Pass it on to others.

I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you took me into your home.  I had no clothes, so you gave me some clothes. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in jail and you came to me.'  ``Then the good people will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you? When did we feed you when you were hungry? When did we give you something to drink when you were thirsty?  When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes? When did you need clothes and we gave you some clothes? . When were you sick or in jail? When did we come to you?'  ``I will answer them, `I am telling you the truth: Since you treated some of my ``unimportant'' brothers this way, you did it to me!'  Matthew 25:35-40

A smile can feed a hungry soul the love he needs, it can refresh a thirsty spirit.  A smile can invite one into a warm caring world, it can cover a cold unloved heart.  A simple smile is a powerful medicine to the sick and hurting.  One smile can come into the depressed soul and brake the chains that bind.

Whenever you smile at one person, you smile at Jesus.

SMILE

Someone might need it

Many go without one

Invigorating to receive

Loving to give

Everyone enjoys a smile

Pass it on.