Each year during Lent and Easter I try to focus on something that will make me a better person. This year I decided to remember to smile.

Mother Theresa says: “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” I think she has a point.

A smile shared often puts a smile on another person’s face. Smiling is a simple act that communicates God’s love to another person.

We have just lived through the darkest days of the year. We can all use a little sunshine. A smile is like sunshine to the spirit.

We often close our worship services with a blessing from Numbers 6:24. “May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.” The blessing describes the Lord’s face as shining when he looks at us. I picture the Lord looking at us with a smile on His face. His shining face tells us He loves us.

Sometimes we are unaware of our facial expressions. Our heart may be happy and full of God’s love, but we forget to notify our face of the happiness in our heart. Taking some time to consciously remember to smile is a good way to notify our face that God loves us.

Perhaps we could try a little experiment this month. Begin with a couple of days just observing the facial expressions of those around you. Is anyone smiling? Next, consciously choose to smile throughout the day. Do this every day for a week. We might be surprised by the impact of a simple smile.

As a young man, I heard Leo Buscaglia share: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Chaplain Jeff Meyers