The Smile

Growing up in my neighborhood or going to family gatherings, a comment I often heard was, "Oh, what a beautiful smile you have."  Even as I grew up,  crooked teeth and all,  having braces, people still said that to me.  When I would be tearing up through the painstaking brace experience, extreme pain engulfing every fiber of my mouth, feeling ugly because of all the silver and extra gadgets in my mouth; I would often be comforted by my mom who would say, "Barbie, one day, you will have the most beautiful smile.  Get through this, and it will all be worth it."

God I loved my mom so very much!   She had her faults like any other mom or human being, but one thing that never failed was that she loved us kids to her very last breath, and I always felt that.  True unconditional love is a precious commodity these days, and after talking with many a friend who didn't feel that way in their families, especially from their own parents, I feel so blessed!  No one loved me more than my mom, except for God, and I can say without a doubt that she would have died for me.  What a gift she was and is in my life! 

Some of us use smiling when we're happy, content, using sarcasm, being manipulative or feeling uncomfortable.  Perhaps there's other emotions connected with smiling, and I would venture to say that smiling was sort of a protection for me.  When I was misbehaving or wanted something from my parents or teachers, I wouldn't hesitate bringing out that smile, sometimes adding a slight tilt of the head to make it even more effective.  Over time, it's become a part of me in all sorts of situations, and I've learned that smiling pleases people.  It's not a matter of getting what I want anymore, but it's effective in living a happy life.  I think slapping on a smile calms people, and I would rather smile than wear a sour puss on my face all the time. Who wants to be around that?  My smile wasn't always intentional, but it just happened.  All of us are given that smiling gift, and I suppose I've learned to use it.  My parents taught me to be kind and nice to people, and the smile was a way to ease into any introduction.  It doesn't really matter if you have teeth or lips either, a smile permeates through our tone of voice, through our tender eyes, through the heart. 

Many years ago I happened to meet a certain "professional" when I was an interpreter.  She unknowingly made the comment to a dear friend of mine that the person in her classroom last year smiled too much.  I must also mention that this "professional" should have never become a teacher.  She was rude, arrogant and lacked so much knowledge when it came to the teaching arena.  As an interpreter, I had to bite my tongue as she was barely passable as a human being, much less a teacher.  I suppose that's why I must have smiled so much in her classroom.  As my Aunt Marie used to say, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."  I would add a little more to that good advice, and say, "Smile, too, when you don't say anything!"

In all the spiritual and self-help books that I've read, they suggest that smiling not only helps the receiver but it also helps our own souls.  There's definitely a chain reaction when someone smiles.  Think about it.  Of course, you want to be aware of your surroundings at all times, but in most situations a smile is the best gift you can give anyone.  Last year sometime, I remember our parish priest talking about the gift of a smile.  Perhaps we think that evangelizing about our faith in Christ has to do with knowing the Bible verses inside and out, but really that's not it at all.  Our priest said that the best way you can bring someone closer to God is to share a smile.  It doesn't mean that we go into a dark alley and smile at the rapist, but in everyday life let's try to smile at the grocery clerk, people at our schools, co-workers at our jobs, members of our church, our neighbors and so on.  We don't always know what someone might be dealing with that day, and a smile could change their whole day......perhaps even change their lives. 

As I travel this life's journey, I continue to ask many questions, but my number one question is this:  "What is my purpose in life that will give glory to God?"  Some days I wake with a smile, and some days it takes me a little longer to find that smile.  As I continue to learn and grow, I will carry with me my smile.  It's free and very effective in life.  In all the turmoil that has rocked this nation lately, think of where this world might be if we all just smiled a bit more?  Bare with me now, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.  I can't help but think of that song when I was a Brownie for one year, and then I quit (that's another story).  If you were a Brownie, too, you'll remember it! 
"I have something in my pocket, it belongs across my face.  I keep it very close at hand in the most convenient place.  I'm sure you couldn't guess it if you guessed a long long while.  But I'll take it out and put it on, it's a great big Brownie SMILE."

Yikes it's time to go to bed!