Happy Heart | Cheerful Face

A veteran pastor began a custom during his Sunday service - a custom he continued for twelve years. Before dismissing the children for Junior church, he invited them all to the front of the sanctuary to march past his pulpit on their way to the special kid oriented service. As the kids walked past him, the pastor made a point to smile at each one. In return, all of them smiled at him. "It was one of the high points of the service," he once said.

One Sunday, however, the pastor became distracted during the Youth Exodus. He forgot to smile at one curly-haired, four-year-old girl. This girl left the line of children and ran back to her mother. Sobbing uncontrollably, she threw herself into her mother's arms.

After the service, the pastor sought out the mother to find out what had happened. She explained to him that, after her child quit crying, she said, "Mommy, I'm so sad. I smiled at God, but he didn't smile back at me!"

The pastor reflected, "To that child, I stood for God. I had failed with my smile, and the world went dark for her."

Smile at each person you encounter. It's doubtful that anyone will confuse you with God, but smiling is one way to express God's love.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful. 

Prov. 15:13