Since childhood, I’ve known the song that says, “If
you’re happy and you know it then your face will surely show it.”
I was reminded of that recently when I
photographed children attending an event in our community. A few were “glum
chums.” Others wore bland expressions. But some had such a radiance on their
sweet faces that I was immediately drawn to them. They made my job easy, for I
didn’t even have to try to coax a smile out of them. All I had to do was take the
picture!
Regretfully, I failed to ask permission to post
their pictures here. But if I could post them, you’d immediately see the HUGE difference
a genuine smile makes. The eyes light up. The face is relaxed. There’s a warmth
and a gentleness on it, which is so appealing.
So, I’ll post two photos: one of my Daddy, taken
many years ago; and one I took of myself recently while seated near a window in
our dining room. Like Daddy, I have a perpetual smile. Like him, I have a glad heart,
even when life isn’t one big happy, happy. And, as the song says, the inner happiness (and joy, gladness,
cheerfulness) shows up on the face.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face….
~Proverbs 15:13, ESV
