Smiling and whistling

 

I had to go to a home improvement store to pick up an item to do a minor repair on our home. As I was about to enter there was a man that was leaving. That is not normally an unusual circumstance, but what made it memorable to me was the fact he was smiling and whistling. Did something happen in the store, or did he hit the lottery that morning or you can fill in some other scenarios in your mind.

I wasn’t whistling nor was I smiling, I was actually a little upset that I had to be there in the first place. I would really like to be similar to that guy with a smile on his face. We

need to be honest, there are times when it would be wrong to smile and be happy. John 11:35 is a two-word verse, “Jesus wept.” I am sure he wasn’t smiling as he was weeping, His friend Lazarus had just died. That was no time for whistling, it was a time for mourning as the ravages of sin in a broken world had claimed another life. Jesus then raised him from the dead, but the point is we don’t always smile.

However, there may be many times when we walk around sad faced because of a minor inconvenience. I think there are way too many times when we could and should be smiling when we are not. Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Jesus was talking about the depth of love that He has for us and the fact that by keeping His commands we will be abiding in His love. That should put a smile on our face way more it does.

So, I am going to make a more concerted effort to put forth a smile on my face because of the joy in Jesus that is in my heart. I will try to be more like the Sunday School song, “If your happy and you know then your face will surely show it.” That’s what I am going to do, how about you?

 

Pastor Marty