WHY DO YOU SMILE?

This afternoon, as I was leaving a restaurant some of my friends call Gastehof, a friend during a brief conversation suggested that one should write on the need for us to smile! That would be interesting I thought and probably simple too.

However on a closer look at the subject matter one began to realise that this is quite a serious matter. On delving into it further, it came to light that there are as many types of smiles as there are reasons behind them.

One can smile to mask one’s ignorance! A smile can be used to mock, can be used in arrogance and in looking down on others who are probably even better human beings. Some people also introduce bad and evil habits to others with beaming smiles!

Sadly too, many on hearing words of deep spiritual import especially if such words do

not accord with their present beliefs have ready their arrogant, superior and scornful smile. These of course are to be left to go on their own way and left alone to their illusions and limited understanding for they are being sarcastic and contemptuous whilst passing by the word of Truth!

An unknown author said: “Your smile is a very powerful weapon, use it wisely .You can make someone really happy or unhappy with that little movement of your lips.”

So I ask you dear friend, why do you smile?

Definitely, a smile is a form of communication. One of the first lessons I leant in customer service was to smile even over the phone as this will be felt by the person on the line and will have a positive effect on the conversation.

Now, because smile is communication, then we need to remember the warning voice of Jesus, the Son of God, who told us “Let your communication be yea or nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil!” This means that we must let our communication be simple and true. Therefore our smiles too, since they are communication must be genuine, simple and true.

A genuine smile expresses good will, promotes friendly interactions and like its brother laughter, can be a strong antidote to darkness so far it is not a smile of malicious nature.

Lastly, let us learn from children who when learning how to walk will customarily get up with a smile until they master the art of walking safely. In the same way, let us go through our future path without despair or complain at any fall. Instead, let’s get up with a smile and keep trying whilst learning from each fall through our innate spiritual understanding, our intuition.

As we close one year and start another, may we go on our path cheerfully, thankfully and properly armed with a firm decision to do only what is good!