A genuine smile can express our inner Christian joy

A parishioner who was always full of joy and had only good things to say about people use to state, “A sad Christian is a sad Christian.” The reason this is true is because of another quote that I like, “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God” coined by Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French Jesuit priest, paleontologist and philosopher.

Once we step back from our small world and look at this vast universe and realize what God has done for us in sending us his only Son to be our Savior, how can we be anything but joyous? Yet, we all know some people who are bitter, grumpy, and are not pleasant to be around. We cannot change them but we do not have to let them pull us down.

We have to be able to express our inner joy while not letting other people’s moods or negative attitudes affect us. It’s a difficult task but we have to decide how we are going to live. We cannot just react to other people’s dispositions.

I work part time for Journey Hospice and I conduct Bereavement Groups for people who have lost love ones. The groups are open to the public. I conduct a group at Homestead in Houma at 3:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month and I lead another group at St. Joseph Manor in Thibodaux on the third Thursday of the month at 2:30 p.m.

At a session last week, a participant gave me an article that reminds us that we can express our joy n by smiling. It’s entitled “The Value of a Smile.” The author is unknown.

“It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits.

“It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and Nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away.

“If you meet folks who are too burdened with grief and worry to smile, just give them one of ours. For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!”

Researchers have examined people’s responses to two types of smiles: genuine and polite. The feature that distinguishes these smiles is the presence of “laugh lines,” the tiny wrinkles that appear at the corners of the eyes during the genuine smile. It comes from within. People prefer genuine smiles that come from the heart.

When you smile, you will let your light shine and make people happy. If you do not like the way your friend is dressed, you do not have to express your opinion about it. Smile, compliment them on another quality. The drawing that your child brought home from school looks like scribble but he thinks it’s a masterpiece. Smile, do not ruin it for him; compliment him on his effort. Your friend fixed you a surprise dinner that tastes burnt. Smile, appreciate the thoughtfulness; it will actually make the food taste better. Whatever you do, don’t forget to smile!

The late author Leo F. Buscaglia once said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Remember, “All people smile in the same language.”