What a Smile!
Prayer:
A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their
six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"
"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what
you hear Mommy say," the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and
said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner."
I
would like to do something different this morning and that is I will share with
you some personal stories on Smiles.
This is a true: I am a mother of three
(ages 14, 12, 3) and have
recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human
being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called
"Smile."
The
class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their
reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say
hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon
after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to
McDonald's one cold March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play
time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of
a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.
I
did not move an inch ..... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of
me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a
horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two
poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was
"smiling." His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he
searched for acceptance.
He
said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had in his hand. The
second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the
second man was mentally challenged and the blue eyed gentleman was his
salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the
counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss"
because that was! all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the
restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then
I really felt it -- the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and
embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in
the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the
young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate
tray.
I
then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting
spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's
cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank
you". I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do
this for you.
God
is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked
away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and
said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey,! To give me hope." We
held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace
that we had been given were we able to give.
That
day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the
last evening of class, with this story in hand. I handed in "my
project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said,
"Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the
class.
She
began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of
God, share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had
touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul
that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I
graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
But Fears is that psychological component that at times keeps us from each other
and God. Luke 8:37, this gospel gives us a unique
insight into what fear does to relationships. “Then all the people of the
region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome
with fear. So He got into the boat and left.”
Jesus
did many miracles when he lived on earth. One of those miracles involved the
deliverance of a demon-possessed man. The people of the community witnessed
this awesome demonstration of God's power when Jesus commanded the demon spirit
to come out of the man and go into the herd of nearby pigs. The man was healed
and sat at Jesus' feet to be ministered to.
You
would expect the people who witnessed this great miracle would have embraced
Jesus as one performing good deeds and to honor him. The opposite was true.
Instead, they were overcome with fear and asked him to leave before he does
further damage to their community.
Why?
Many of us respond the same way to Jesus when he does an out-of-the-ordinary
act among his people. We are fearful because we have never personally
experienced this before. So, we draw wrong judgments. The result is that Jesus
removes himself from us, thus lessened our relationship with God.
The
Lord is able to do far exceeding above what we think. Jesus does not remain in
the places where there is fear of his goodness. It is often subconscious fears
that prevent us from going to a deeper level with him or in any human
relations.
The
people in Gerasenes could not benefit from Jesus' presence because of their
fears. Have we feared Jesus because of what he might require of us? Have we
feared that he might ask of us something we are not prepared to give? Have we feared Jesus because he might ask us
to commit our whole to him? We should not let our fears drive him from our
presence and any human relations.
God’s
motive is always love for us. And we can trust him for that. Some one said
that: “Fear is the dark room where we develop our negatives.” And it is so
true. It is difficult to love some one you are afraid of. As a result we see
racial, religious, and ethnic tensions around the glob. Fear is the dark room
where we develop our negatives.
When we step out into
the church of everyday life, we must take God with us. And be willing to let
God’s light shine through us. Today, tomorrow, whenever you are out….on the
street, big town, small town…take the time to actually look at people’s faces.
It is quite interesting what you might see.
In the fall of 1977 I
was invited to speak to a group of Christians in a free church in Herning,
Denmark. I have just started my sermon when I noticed a middle aged coupled
walked into the service and took their seat in the rear of the church.
There was nothing
extraordinary about my sermon, I thought, but this couple noticed something
unique that they later shared with me. They said my smile! What about my smile
I inquired? They felt, I spoke with confidence of my faith in Jesus Christ,
which showed in my smile. They left that evening encouraged in their own faith
journey.
In my travels to
different countries, I have noticed that one can actually observe amazing and
interesting things by people’s facial expressions. It is the unreserved,
smiling person that one is immediately attracted to, then we look in the eyes.
It is through the eyes that one can see God’s light.
It actually shines
through and it is authentic, it is said that the “eye is the window to the soul.” A smile without the
sincerity of the eyes is just a smile, another part of a mask we may wear. But
a smile from the heart penetrates the very being of a person who does actually
preach Jesus. That person can’t help it. When such a smile comes your way, you
know it is God himself who is smiling at you and saying, you are special.
The awareness of God’s grace in our hearts that emanates as a glorious
light for people around to see. Every day we have the opportunity to change
someone’s day. Just with a sincere smile. Think about it! And just keep smiling
you will never know who you might touch. Love and compassion is what God
require of us that we Love People And Use Things - Not Love Things And Use
People.
An
Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but
only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To
handle yourself, use your head.
To
handle others, use your heart.
Kindness
is difficult to give away, because it keeps coming back.
Lord, let your light so shine from us
that the world will know you.
Let this light dispell darkness that
surrounds our every day.”
Amen
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
February 9, 2003