Smiles

I was reminded of this article I found in Above Rubies magazine a while ago. I thought I would share it with you and put in on here to remind me of what it says when I forget. I needed this reminder today as I was very tired and did not feel like smiling.
Written by Nancy Campell

"There are two things that seem to be fading from society -whistling men and smiling mothers. Is it the stress of our busy lives that rob us of these two ingredients that fill homes with happiness?
When I grew up in a little town in New Zealand, it was normal to hear men whistling as they happily worked around their homes. It is rare to hear men whistling today.
Mothers' smiles are also disappearing. I see so many sad, depressed and hang-dog faces on mothers and this is in an age of smaller families! Do we need to slow down and find tie to smile again? To take time to smile at our children?
A smile is a necessary part of a mother's countenance. The Bible tells us that the more we behold the Lord, the more we will grow into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). In the same way, your children look at you all day long and every day. What do they see? Do they see a frowning face? A grumbling face? A downcast look? Or even a furious look?
Guess what your children will be like? Exactly what they see on your face! They will grow into your likeness. Do you want happy children? Then let them see a happy smiling face. Change your frown into a smile. Start smiling at your children. Smile a them all day long. Every time you look at one of you children, smile at them!
What if you don't feel like it? Forget your feeling. You can't trust them. They come and go like the wind. Put on a smile even when you don't feel like smiling. You will change, and yes your children will change. You will notice a difference in their behavior.
What about your husband? When did you last smile at him? Or is he used to glaring looks? Or a complaining countenance? Are you daily adding to his stress? Did you know that men can't stand grumbling, depressed women? They run from them. If you want to keep your husband, smile at him. They are better than a doctor's visit. He will bask in you happy and contented countenance.
William Arthur Ward wrote, "Blessed is the woman who has a smile in her voice, a sparkle in her eyes, a song on her lips, a spring in her step, and warmth in her touch, a depth to her beauty, a purpose in her life, a joy in her faith, a hope in her breast and a love in her heart.""

It is amazing to see how just smiling changes how your children respond to you even when giving correction. It is so easy to slip into the grumps and then spread it around your home. This article always encourages me to take that very small step in changing my day by just smiling. I hope this will encourage you as well.