Five Minute Friday: "Smile"

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My two favorite kinds of smiles:  those of children and the elderly.  Why?  Most young children have not been jaded by the joy-stealers of society and many of the elderly have endured the joy stealers and come out on top.  When I taught preschool, not a day went by that we didn't smile and laugh about something--it didn't have to make sense.  As I age, I don't mind if my face shows the joy of laugh lines rather than the saggy jowls of depression and perpetual sadness.

Whenever I have to go out, I try to show smiling eyes to reveal the smiling mouth under my mask.  Folks are still afraid and they need a friendly "yes" face.  Charles Swindoll told this story in one of his books (I read it years ago and can't remember which one but I found the quote here):

During Thomas Jefferson's presidency he and a group of travelers were crossing a river that had overflowed its banks. Each man crossed on horseback fighting for his life. A lone traveler watched the group traverse the treacherous river and then asked President Jefferson to take him across. The president agreed without hesitation, the man climbed on, and the two made it safely to the other side of the river where somebody asked him: "Why did you select the President to ask this favor?" The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the President of the United States who had carried him safely across. "All I know," he said, "is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'No' and on some of them was the answer 'Yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."

I want my face to smile and say "Yes, there is still joy out here. Yes, I care.  Yes, you are loved."

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