A voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
Today, my little boy was delighted to gather Easter eggs and I loved capturing his sweet smile of gratitude. Have you ever noticed the power in the smile? It is significant and is probably why one of the fastest growing companies uses it as their logo. A smiley face is also the most widely used emoji. It delivers happiness – not Amazon – but my smile. It reveals how open my heart and soul are to gratitude. An inner smile is never forced, it is the overflow of a life of gratitude.
Tonight as I was praying with my kids, I said something about wanting to please God and make Him smile. It is not a works-based pleasing, but a connection pleasing. A smile that affirms the relationship. Just like a baby smiles back at a mother or the knowing smile a parent gives a grown child to affirm them. God wants me to connect with Him in this way. My acknowledgement via a smile can communicate more than words. It can say to Him, “I receive your unconditional love and grace in my life.” A smile that warms His heart as I embrace His love and try to give it away. A smile that says, “I know my life will have its challenges, but I am grateful to be here and be your child.”
Reasons to Smile
There are many reasons to smile. Thankfulness, sincerity, connection and delight. Life brings moments throughout the day that provide avenues for reaction and interaction. My smile can connect me to a person in the elevator, the neighbor across the street or the little child on my lap. The smile is the communication of the heart. It can bring connection and the evidence of reciprocity.
Ways to give Smiles
There are distinct ways to give smiles. There are smiles of gratitude for services or a job well done to a waitress or cashier. There are smiles of acknowledgement that I see you and recognize you. There are smiles of pleasure and delight in what I am experiencing. There are smiles of acceptance and love – those are the knowing smiles between close friends and family. There is a deeper smile of security from a person that knows you and loves you unconditionally and will never turn His back on you. This smile is from God. He smiles down and lavishes His love on us through Christ.
The Ultimate Smile
Christ came down and with His great grace and strength – He smiled over death and the grave and gave us victory and security for life. Everyday I can choose to smile back in gratitude, acknowledgement, acceptance, delight and security – knowing that He has brought me the greatest gift of all – eternal life with Him. Everyday can be a happy Easter! Keep on smiling.
Keep Smiling
Gratitude. Acknowledgement. Acceptance. Delight. Security.
How am I connecting with God and others? What makes me smile?