Do you smile much? Are you quick and generous in your smiling or are you a bit more cautious and reserved? I hope you are a smiling person because there is incredible significance and power wrapped up in a human smile.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for smile means to cause to burst, to be bright, to look present, or to spread. Additionally, Hebrew dictionaries use the simile of a sunrise when conveying the idea of a smile. Like a dawning sunrise that gloriously spreads, sending light, beauty, and hope into a newborn day, so our smiling can brighten the world around us.
Smiling is such an interesting concept, and it is amazing how the simple lifting of the corners of a face can communicate happiness, warmth, confidence, or love.
John Maxwell, motivational speaker/teacher, humorously says that as a young man, he once looked in the mirror and thought, “John, you are not a handsome dude.” Then he smiled and thought, “That’s better.” Then in his own clever words he said that he has been smiling ever since.
St. Francis of Assisi said that, “It is not fitting when one is in the Lord’s service to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.” We need to smile more. God’s radiance can shine through the simple smile on a human face. Let’s smile and be conveyors of that much-needed radiance.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)
Note: Jessica loves this picture of me from the old age face app. She thinks my smile looks kind. 🙂