(This blog post came to mind because of today's page in Our Daily Bread titled Good Medicine written by Lawrence Darmani.)
I'm talking about that big smile we give to people we absolutely are so happy to see. That same smile can be given to people you meet in your day-to-day interactions. This is when it takes courage. Many walk around with a bland look on their faces -- like they are going through the motions but wish they were somewhere else. But if you give them a big smile, they often smile back.
I know this from experience. A big smile gives people an in to your life. It's such a simple thing but it's powerful.
One summer long ago I worked at a hotel. Every morning I walked through the entire hotel because employees parked in the back. One morning I asked God for a ministry of smiles (why that came to me I do not know). And that's all I did that summer -- I just said good morning and smiled at everyone I saw. It was amazing the change that occurred. It was just a big open smile but God used it.
Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Most people are rarely given big smiles (and yes, they are gifts). You could change this. If you are bold enough to give people big smiles today, you will be a vessel of healing. And this world needs a lot of healing.