Smiles...

I was sick, tired and crabby.  It had been a long day, and I didn't want to be standing in line at the checkout.  All I wanted was to go home and crawl under the blankets and feel sorry for myself.  I was frowning, and probably looking as miserable as I felt.  I wanted a pity party, and I wasn't going to be denied.

That is when I saw the transforming smile of the checkout person.  It wasn't a huge gesture.  It wasn't one of those life changing events.  It was a simple smile, genuinely directed at me.  She saw I was having A Day, she commiserated with me, and she smiled from her eyes, because she understood.  Which caused me to smile in return, and changed my entire day.

Sometimes, all it takes to turn your day around is a simple act of kindness on the part of another.  It doesn't have to be the grand gesture to make a difference for someone else, as fun as that can be.  Sometimes, a simple smile is enough.  It is a good lesson to remember when we encounter someone who is out of sorts.

In Proverbs 15:1 we read,

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

How true those words are.

Today I am grateful for the random smiles that get thrown my way.  They give me peace, comfort and uplift as I make my way through this often confusing and overwhelming life.

Dear Lord.  Thank you for giving us the ability to smile.  It enhances the lives of everyone involved, and changes us for the better each time we see one.  Amen.