A BIT OF HUMOR FOR MONDAY

An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less. ---Nicholas Butler---

SMILE YOUR WAY TO HEALTHY LIVING

Do you ever take time to watch people? Look at their faces? Often I notice people wearing frowns as if they were etched in their foreheads at birth. The corners of their mouths curve in an exaggerated upside-down smile, their gait is sluggish, shoulders are stooped and their eyes hold no declaration of pleasure. I wonder what they are thinking of, what are the burdens so heavy as to carve such an expression of heaviness on their countenances.

Once in awhile one of these people will glance my way. What to do? I smile! Perhaps even say, "Good morning!", or just a simple, "Hi! How are you today?" Usually my smile breeds more smiles, their faces light up and they go on their way with a little lighter step. But there are some who refuse to even look to the right or left; their focus is straight ahead as if they wish to remain in their own darkened world of thought. They want no help. They want no look of encouragement. They want no cheering smiles.

"Just leave me alone," they voice wordlessly.

And I do. Leave them alone, that is. If my smile cannot kindle a returning smile in another, I'll just keep giving it away until someone responds and accepts it. Hopefully in turn those who receive it will pass it on. For a smile is not something to keep for yourself. A smile is for giving. And also forgiving!

They say that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. To be exact, 43 to frown, 17 to smile. That's interesting. It means that it is far easier to smile than it is to frown. Then why so many frowns? Perhaps it's merely habit. Perhaps there are burdens too heavy to bear. Perhaps they feel that no one cares anyway, so why bother to smile? Whatever the reason, I am determined to keep on giving away smiles whether or not I am rewarded with a reciprocal smile.

If only they realized all the extra effort they are expending to frown! If only they understood that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22 KJV). Oh, if they would only accept the fact that Jesus died on the cross to take away those frowns! Then they would be filled with such joy that those upside-down smiles would turn right-side up and light would shine from their eyes.

Let's start an energy-saving program, put away those frowns and display a smiling, happy face and bring a little cheer to those around us. We will be happier for it, it will please the Lord, and others will feel the benefit. You will know healthy living as you take a dose of the medicine of joy. Smile, smile, smile! As they say, "You'll be glad you did."

☻ ☻ ☻

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY

You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3 NASB






Painting by Diane Stephenson

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure, but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. ---Joseph Addison---

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

"When Things Go Wrong"

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but do not quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

anon

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it,
for we will surely overcome it." Numbers 13:30





Painting by Diane Stephenson

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse. ---Helen Keller---