Keep Smiling!

Yesterday’s visit to the dentist with my two youngest grandsons, inspired this post today. I saw that sign on the wall, and of course it called for a photo opt with my two boys. The smiles on these two boys remind me of the joys of a smile and the importance of a simple smile:
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1. Smiling can make us happy (even when we're not).
2. Smiling can make others happy.
3. Smiling makes us more attractive.
4. Smiling can help us de-stress.
5. Smiling can help us land a job, win friends, open the doors of opportunity.
6. Smiling can lead to laughter.
7. Smiling just feels good.

But, with so much to look perplexed about these days...who will be our next president, how to keep our families safe, how to earn enough finances to keep afloat, dealing with a physical issue, how to calm the storms in our lives – how can we possible muster up smiling all the time?

Even more loving and caring than our parents when we were kids, is our loving and caring Father God who wants to help us "worry less and smile more often". As God's children, should we worry and fret? Would He teach us to walk, to watch us fall? Would He give us life, to watch us fail? Would He be nailed to the cross and then disregard our prayers?

Philippians 4:6-7 says "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us -- so let's purpose to WORRY LESS and SMILE MORE OFTEN! I think that's exactly how our DAD wants us to live -- complete trust in His wise and sovereign ways that ensure we are in His loving care.

I'll take that! I'm smiling BIG! How about you!

Worry Less; Smile More Often

Worry Less; Smile More Often
I've posted this photo before, but it is such a powerful reminder of the childlike faith and trust that we all need so much. I just had to share it again for you AND me.

Don't you just love watching a baby sleeping? His/Her adorable little smiles that just indicate their satisfied, care-free existence. Life was worry-free when we were kids and when we had parents who were bigger and stronger than us and were the answer to all our needs and wants.

But for us -- all grown up with lots of responsibilities, cares and concerns, there's certainly plenty for us to worry about. Income tax returns (just started getting my records together), identity theft (some pranksters put fraudulent charges in my bank account), too much month left and too little funds to make it through, who our next president will be (Dear Lord, help us!), or a medical report that wasn't so positive (Had those, too!)

But, even more loving and caring than our parents when we were kids, is our loving and caring Heavenly Father who wants to help us "worry less and smile more often". As God's children, should we worry and fret? Would He teach us to walk, to watch us fall? Would He give us life, to watch us fail? Would He be nailed to the cross and then disregard our prayers?

Philippians 4:6-7 says "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us -- so let's purpose to WORRY LESS and, by the way....SMILE MORE OFTEN! Smile a while and give your face a rest. Let the world know, you know Who's got all the stuff in your life and in the world under control. Smiling could just possibly be the magnet that attracts the people, circumstances, and things you need to succeed and overcome all that is trying to pull you down. I think that's exactly how our DAD wants us to live -- complete trust in His wise and sovereign ways that ensure we are in His loving care.