I read this phrase the other day:  It said “SMILE.  It will bring serenity to the most stressful situation (Garnet Hill).”  A smile is about the most beautiful thing one can bear or see on the face of another, on any given day or night.

Have you ever realized how much a smile makes a difference?

I have always been told to “keep smiling,” “your smile made my day,” and even been called “smiley.”  I didn’t realize how much I smiled, but almost everyone compliments it.

Mostly, people don’t know it’s something that comes naturally for me; it is not a fake smile, not a forced smile, but just me in general.

The sad part about it is that even when I’m facing problems and difficult situation, my smile still glows; that’s not being fake, that’s being real.  It’s real because I have every reason to smile.

My smile radiates from the fact that within me is the love of GOD that I want to give to everyone I come in contact with.  Although life has its challenges, one should not let it overtake their belief.  My belief is that GOD will handle it, I can’t.  So in the meantime, why worry, why fret, why cry.  Don’t get me wrong now, I’m not saying I don’t worry, I don’t fret, or even cry (yes, I’m human); what I’m saying is that, I dare let any unusual circumstance or situation govern my day, or my life.

I dare to let it overtake me in such a way that my smile will turn into a forever frown.  I dare to look as though I don’t have inside of me what I portray to others….the love of an all-powerful GOD.  I dare to let satan think for one second, he is winning or has won.

I just want the world to know that the Bible says we cannot grow one strand of hair on our heads, nor grow ourselves one inch taller, that’s GOD’s work.  We can’t change our day when we are just going about our business; the day will happen.  So if we can’t do any of the fore-mention on our own, then why get to the point of allowing the stresses of day-to-day life succeed.

My smile is the assurance that “this too shall pass,” or that “I should decrease so that GOD may increase in my life.”  Because, who am to I think I can do it alone.  Who am I to think that I am more powerful than GOD?  Who am I to think that I can gravitate to being so up there that I might not fall down? Heavens no, that is not me, so I do the simplest thing that keeps me going every day.  I do the simplest thing that not only make me feel good, despite my woes, but for anyone who I come in contact with.  In real talk, you may not know what people are going through, and how such a little thing, as a smile, will brighten up even the evilest person who may say “what are you smiling about.”  I sometimes reply “I’m alive” or just keep smiling.

Here’s thanking GOD for a winning smile and believe me, if you happen to see me not smiling, keep looking closely, it’s there.   I may just be resting it.   It reflects my inner peace, even on my darkest day.
Beverly Gibson is a native of Natchez.