Smile! God Loves You! – March Spiritual Care Blog

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

Wing-A-Thon Fundraiser – Mark Your Calendars!

Mark Your Calendars for the Wing-A-Thon Fundraiser!

You don’t want to miss this opportunity to support your local Baruch community as they compete to eat the most chicken wings in one hour and raise the most funds for their community! This event will be live-streamed on YouTube from 2 pm to 3:15 pm on April 12th, 2024. Who will take home the trophy and be declared the Wing Champions? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Last year, 32 teams from nine different Baruch communities participated in this event. A combined total of 2,469 wings were consumed in one hour and over $15,000 was raised! The Community Support Award went to Georgetown & Cambridge Manor who raised over $8,700 for their Patio Project. The Team Support Award and the Wing Champions Award went to the Wing Warriors from Georgetown & Cambridge after they raised over $3,000 and ate 241 chicken wings.

This event is a great way to get involved in your local Baruch community! Mark your calendars and tune in on April 12.

Want to support your local Baruch community by participating? Create your team, fill out this form and email it to allyson.hoekzema@baruchsls.org. All wing-eaters will receive a Wing-A-Thon shirt!Do you own a business or know a business that would like to sponsor this event? Fill out this form and email it to allyson.hoekzema@baruchsls.org.Want to donate? Click here!