Smile

A cool post I saw on Facebook, from Andy Reyes in Cuba … “The revolution of love begins with a smile, your smile. It is a light in the window of your soul, indicating that your heart is at home and at peace. Do not let anyone come to you without leaving better and happier. Remember, you are the living expression of God's goodness, with kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile. Freely radiate your smile, because it has many jobs to do.”

I have written in the past about one of my Mom’s gifts, her smile. I am so grateful that she modeled that smile for us as kids. Her soul was always so pure, so innocent, so connected to the Lord … and her smile was definitely a light always shining in her window. She was always at peace even in the toughest of circumstances; she truly believed that Jesus was at her side.

More importantly, she made others happy and better. She would come home from her job as a cafeteria worker at a University of Minnesota dorm, and talk abut the students she knew. She would talk to them about their lives and assure them that all would be well. Every day she was the living expression of God … I believe that.

I like the last lines … it’s not always easy for me, because I have had people tell me I come across very serious and intense, often much more serious than I feel. But showing kindness in your face, in your eyes and in your smile, and in your laugh … that is a gift she shared, and one that I try to remember and reflect. Compared to her I am an amateur but there is a special spark I feel I got from her … that smile that has many jobs to do.