Smile

A happy heart enlightens the face, but a sad heart reflects a broken spirit. So, it's been about two weeks now since I started my 49-consecutive days of blogging with positive intent. I am brought back to something so simply positive today... The act of smiling! I once heard someone talk about this verse I posted, above, from Proverbs 15:13. They spoke about smiling...who speaks about smiling? Isn't that more something we just do... Or don't do?! I could try to break down everything this person pulled from this verse but then the post may drag and I'm a little sleepy as is. ;) Hah, so... I do want to share the verse, though, because I believe there is truth to heard here.  Another version says it like this: A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Do our smiles reflect our hearts? Does our demeanor bring forth a story? ... I believe it does. We can talk, here, about being in tune with the people around us and the state that they are in. That's so important. But tonight I want to touch on something different... Sometimes when I drive in my car and I'm feeling kind of down or worried or overwhelmed or just in a plain-old bad "attitudey" mood...I start practicing this exercise. To be honest, I think it was a God-given exercise that worked its way into my mind after hearing the above verse. And all I do is just start- SMILING! That's it? Yup. I just start smiling. No one else is with me in my car, but I just smile. And I tell ya what, and I kid you not, without fail, I feel good. Ya know what I think the truth is?... I think the truth is I've got zero reasons to be in an ugly mood. I am blessed beyond measure. And sometimes I forget that. How? Call me crazy, I do not know. But when I smile it's as if my face tells the story of my heart that somehow my mind forgot today. The truth.  So, child of God... smile today. I dare you to. When no ones even looking... When you're feeling at your worst. And maybe, juuust maybe, what's really going on- deep down beneath the shallow thoughts and circumstances will begin to shine through.  That's joy. That's Jesus. That's Strength.  That's all for now,  Grace PS If that last photo doesn't make you smile, then Idk what to say! :)