#WarOnGrumbling Day 23

I'm grateful that God gave me a smile and I get to use it. 


Before my father passed away, he spent almost a year in and out of hospitals. During my many visits, I found there was one thing in my spiritual arsenal that worked better than anything. My smile.

Whether it be the health care staff, the patients or visitors, people are so stressed out in hospitals. And nothing changed the atmosphere more than smiling at folks. Some days it was hard, but the more I did it, the easier it got. After a while it almost became my ministry to walk through the hospital and throw smiles at anyone I encountered.

Dad is gone and I think I sorta forgot about the power of my smile. Then today at Polo Park, I passed by a bald elderly lady who was grimacing and leaning on a cane while she made her way one unsteady step at a time down the mall. I stopped and did nothing more than smile at her, and to see her face light up and her entire demeanor change because of a such a tiny gesture was truly humbling. I have got to do that more often.

#WarOnGrumbling #40DaysOfThanksgiving

Smile

Everybody's gotta have a personal anthem. Mine is "Smile" by The Jayhawks, one of my favorite bands from Minneapolis. When I'm in the struggle with negative mindsets, worry or vexing thoughts, this is what I play to sing along to and reset my day. 

Right next door to Manitoba, Minnesota's landscape is somewhat similar to ours and the opening lines of "Smile" are so evocative of lake life, you can just tell singer/songwriter/leader Gary Louris spends time at the cottage. 

Wake up, put your shoes on //
Take a breath of the northern air //
And rub those eyes //
Genuflect beneath the starry skies

I so relate to that, making it the chief reason this song speaks to me. There is nothing quite like standing beside a lake and letting God captivate me through the expanse of His heavens. My response is always soul exploding worship, which is so perfectly triggered by this song. 

And besides, I really don't have any problems -- even in my darkest hour of despair -- that my heavenly Papa can't fix. So I keep my chin up and I smile. 

Wake up, put your shoes on
Take a breath of the northern air
And rub those eyes
Genuflect beneath the starry skies

Before you climb the mountain
First the foothills must appear
Step high and light
And take up your staff and shining armor

(Chin up, chin up)
You don't really have a problem
(Chin up, chin up)
In your hour of despair

And smile when you're down and out
(Find something inside you)
Smile when you're down and out
(Find something inside you)
Smile

The stars on the horizon
Stretch as far as the eyes can see
They represent the souls of those like you and me

#MonthfulOfMusic #HoodMom