When Your Smiling

“Why are you smiling?” I get asked that often especially if I am sitting alone. I answer, “I had a personal thought that made me smile.” The personal thought could be one in the past, at the moment, or something in the future.

I had a deacon that came to me with a complaint. Usually when a deacon tells the pastor that “we need to talk” it is not good. It means that the pastor has not followed the perceived mold standardized by the powers that control the church. Did I just write that?

He wanted to know if I was ever serious. I responded, “As serious as a heart attack.” He had a complaint from a church member that sad when she discussed the sickness of her mother to me that I smiled. I guess it was the wrong facial expression.

When the deacon finished his grievance with me, I smiled and said, “It takes less muscles to smile than it did to have the grim reapers face.”  I inherited the smile/crooked grin from my mom.

What he did not know was I smiled to keep from crying. I replied to his never serious face tirade by sharing a few moments of my life with him. I said, “In a marriage and family class at the University of Montevallo I took a test to check my well-being. I experienced the death of my dad and mom while attending the university, both passing before I graduated. I experienced the layoff from a company that had never had a layoff in the history of the plant. I was taking fifteen hours of classes, working twenty hours a week part time at minimum wage in the university carpenter shop, married with two children, no insurance, and a pregnant wife. I was a bi-vocational pastor at the time. The test revealed that I was a prime candidate for a heart attack. Yes, I know what it is to be serious. I smile because I am following God’s call on my life.”

The deacon stood before in shock. I told him that I would talk with the complaining parishioner. Most Baptist church members look as though they are made at the world. We have an expression in Chilton County, Alabama for such folks. It goes like this, “The look like a jackass eating saw briars.” More people are attracted to a smiling person than those I described. I’m smiling now and hope you are too.

Another time I was reprimanded for being too humorous when preaching. Some “stick in the mud” said the pulpit was no place for humor. Early in my ministry a lady told me that I would be successful in preaching because I have a great balance between humor and seriousness. She said it was a gift from God.

After the reprimand, I lost my gift of humor for a short period of time. One day in seminary the preaching professor asked this question. “Ladies and gentlemen why is it that you try to imitate such and such preacher when God calls you for who you are and the gifts he has blessed you. Be who you are.” I rebounded and used the gift of humor and regained my smiling.”

I have learned in life that people do not like to see happy people and will do what they can to still the joy out of life. A smile can calm a fear, help a hurt, and encourage healing. I have had plenty of people tell me that they were going to “wipe that grin ff my face.” I still have it especially when time are hard and hurt is great.

Yeah, I have dark and sad moments like we all do. I remember momma and when she was sad. She got her guitar and started singing. She would begin by singing a sad Hank Williams tearjerker and before long she would be singing a Ray Stevens laughter songs.

When my Aunt Annie was in the hospital, Lisa and I paid her a visit. She was my favorite aunt because she could make you laugh and smile. We knew she did not have long, and I wanted to make her smile. I said, “I love you Aunt Annie.” As a nurse turned to her side and I sang Aunt Annie a song that momma and she sang. It goes like this. “I see your hindy so white and shiny, it makes me giggle to see it wiggle.” She gave me a big smile. Those were the last words I said to her.

Jesus had an attractive smile. I say that because children loved Him and He them. He loved His disciples

 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11 KJV

Our heavenly Father smiled and encouraged us to smile.

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Numbers 6:25-26 KJV

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 13:15 KJV

Louis Armstrong sings:

When you're smilin', when you're smilin'
The whole world smiles with you
When you're laughin', when you're laughin'
The sun comes shinin' through

SMILE