Looking For a Smile

I was standing in the grocery store aisle one day when I noticed someone walking toward me.  I looked up to see an older woman headed my way.  I stepped back out of her way as she came nearer.  I noticed that she seemed to be trudging instead of just walking.  She looked burdened and tired.  Our eyes met and I gave her a smile.  She stopped in her tracks.

“Oh,” she said to me.  “I’ve been looking for a smile all day!  Thank you for giving me a smile!”  

And with that she returned my smile, her happy face beaming.  We talked briefly and left with a God bless you coming from both our joyful faces.  

It cost me nothing to share a smile with this dear lady, yet I felt like a million bucks as I walked away…and I dare say she did as well.

Sometimes smiles come easily.  Solomon talked about that in Proverbs 15:13 when he said, “A glad heart makes a cheerful face.”  

But at other times, I feel more like what Solomon described in the second part of that verse: “…but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”

Aaron had an epic meltdown last night.  I ended up in joining him on the meltdown wagon.  That’s never a good feeling, for me or him, but especially for me.  My spirit did feel crushed last night with sorrow in my heart.  Guilty, too, and tired.  Gary and I both were spent.

Aaron woke up happy today.  He doesn’t seem to feel the residual effects of these occasions like we do.  Later, he and I went to the store.  There in one of the aisles, I saw two women coming toward us.  In their cart was a little dog.  I knew instantly what Aaron would do.

“Aaron,” I quietly said, “do NOT pet that little dog.  Those ladies may not want you to do that, plus that dog doesn’t know you.”

Aaron, surprisingly, didn’t reach out to pet the dog.  But he craned his neck like Gumby as we walked by, and the ladies couldn’t help but notice.  Then Aaron stopped to stare some more.  

And they smiled.

So, I told them that Aaron loves dogs and asked if he could pet their little guy.

“Of course!” one of them said.

Aaron was very happy, I was relieved and thankful, and the kind ladies smiled and smiled as Aaron gently stroked the dog’s fur.  Turns out his name was Little Bit, which Aaron and I loved.

I thanked them as we parted ways.  Later, as we left the store, we passed one of the ladies and she gave us a sweet, warm smile as she wished us a good day…and I did the same.  

I could tell they liked Aaron and understood that he was special, of course.  This small interaction soothed my sorrowful heart, pushing out most of the sorrow and replacing it with gladness.

This time I was the one in the store with the burden, but two kind ladies took the time to share smiles and Little Bit with a tired mom and a chuckling Aaron.

And I believe God notices more than a little bit those kindnesses that do more than we know to lift a tired heart.

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Author: Patty hesaidwhatks

I'm Patty and I write about our adult son who has Epilepsy and Autism, who still lives with my husband and me, and who is a package full of many surprises and joys and challenges and TALK! Lots of talking, which creates laughter and some other reactions as well. I also write about how God shows Himself to me in everyday life.

22 thoughts on “Looking For a Smile”

  5. Your image of Aaron with a giant smile on his face is awesome! Smiles mean so much when you’re hurting. They’re the perfect mood booster. Thank you for sharing your smile encounters, Patty. 🙂

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  6. Loved this, Patty–a poignant illustration of God’s loving attentiveness to our needs. I too have experienced the uplift of someone’s genuine smile, a kind comment, and sometimes even a bit of humor that elevates a smile to a chuckle. Praise God for the encouragers. I’ve also enjoyed being the giver of smiles and small kindnesses, and praise God for the privilege of BEING an encourager!

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  9. I love it when we get a little lift like that, just when it is most needed! I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be at time to have to deal with meltdowns, and of course sometimes you’re going to respond with a meltdown of your own. We all have our limits, and sometimes we reach them. But the good thing is that we also know how to forgive, both others and ourselves, and move on. Even better is when those small acts of kindness come along to restore our souls……

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  10. Forgiving myself has been hard for me to do. Then, one day, this verse spoke loudly to my heart:
    “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience” Hebrews 10:22
    God bless you, Patty, as you serve Him! 💕

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