“…if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say unto this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it would move….” (Matthew 17:20). If ever I were to write a book it would include a chapter entitled, “The Power of a Little Thing.” It would address things like the mustard seed, a word of prayer; the first step in a journey of faith. It would speak of the tongue, so powerful a single word can lift a person up or bring him down. It would describe the power a child; naive and innocent and yet able to see what the experienced and learned cannot. If you doubt it, try explaining to a child your carefully crafted plan to stabilize an economy by spending more money you don’t have. He will likely give a quizzical look and then return to his play without gracing your proposal with a response.
I would add to these examples the power of a smile. It costs nothing and takes little time or effort and yet a smile has the power to bring the dead to life. I have seen this perhaps most clearly in Honduras among those who seem to have lost hope. They are easy to spot, staggering along the road beneath a massive load of wood; or struggling to move a loaded wheelbarrow down a busy highway; or maybe just shuffling along, aimless and seemingly without life. In any case the head is bowed, shoulders stooped, the gait is slow, eyes are dull and without expression. This is a face that hasn’t smiled in years.
You would expect that such a person would not notice when you come near. Surprisingly, unless the man has completely lost hope, he knows you are there, and almost inevitably, before you pass by seems compelled to take a quick glance at your eyes. His motive is not to exchange a greeting; it is sheer curiosity, because years of experience have shown he will likely receive in return a look of pity, condemnation, disgust, and often anger.
If you can see this portrait in your minds eye, then the stage is set for you to see the power of the smile. Get ready. Prepare yourself. When your eyes meet he will be suspicious at first; noncommittal. But when he sees that you are genuine, you will behold something that could have been brought forth by little else…not by encouraging, coaxing, flattering, teaching, preaching. You will see dead come back to life; you will behold the power of a smile.
I had assumed this to be a third world phenomenon, but during a recent visit to the U.S. I observed the same thing… many opportunities to see the power of a smile, especially among those who might feel unwelcome in our country. I urge you to try an experiment. Try giving a smile to one who least expects it. It will consume none of your time or your resources, but you will be amazed at how it blesses your day.
I would add to these examples the power of a smile. It costs nothing and takes little time or effort and yet a smile has the power to bring the dead to life. I have seen this perhaps most clearly in Honduras among those who seem to have lost hope. They are easy to spot, staggering along the road beneath a massive load of wood; or struggling to move a loaded wheelbarrow down a busy highway; or maybe just shuffling along, aimless and seemingly without life. In any case the head is bowed, shoulders stooped, the gait is slow, eyes are dull and without expression. This is a face that hasn’t smiled in years.
You would expect that such a person would not notice when you come near. Surprisingly, unless the man has completely lost hope, he knows you are there, and almost inevitably, before you pass by seems compelled to take a quick glance at your eyes. His motive is not to exchange a greeting; it is sheer curiosity, because years of experience have shown he will likely receive in return a look of pity, condemnation, disgust, and often anger.
If you can see this portrait in your minds eye, then the stage is set for you to see the power of the smile. Get ready. Prepare yourself. When your eyes meet he will be suspicious at first; noncommittal. But when he sees that you are genuine, you will behold something that could have been brought forth by little else…not by encouraging, coaxing, flattering, teaching, preaching. You will see dead come back to life; you will behold the power of a smile.
I had assumed this to be a third world phenomenon, but during a recent visit to the U.S. I observed the same thing… many opportunities to see the power of a smile, especially among those who might feel unwelcome in our country. I urge you to try an experiment. Try giving a smile to one who least expects it. It will consume none of your time or your resources, but you will be amazed at how it blesses your day.