“A word or a smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul.” ~ St. Therese of Liseux
If only. That is what I often say to myself. If only. If only people would realize how easy it is to bring the Lord to others. I think too many people think that the Gospel message is too complicated to attempt. The Gospel message is simple: love. Love one another. Love God. Love yourself. Just love.
If we are a people of love, we would be quick to provide for others and would be even quicker to greet one another. A warm smile and a genuine word of cheer goes a long way in another person’s life. There are many times we do not take into consideration what our acts of kindness mean to others. If only we would remember how we feel when someone is kind to us or when someone simply smiles at us.
That’s all it takes. The recipe is not difficult at all. It is easy to affect the lives of others in a positive, loving, Christian way.
Sadly, it is just as easy to pull a person down or put a damper on that person’s day. A frown or a curt, cold word is all it takes to convey disdain or apathy. Our human nature interprets the expressions and actions of others and we internalize those expressions and actions quickly and deeply. If only we would remember how we feel when someone is rude to us or offers us a cold shoulder.
Warmth and love or coldness and disdain, these are what we bring to the world by our expressions and actions. Let’s choose to bring Christ into the world. Choose to love. If only. If only every person would make that same choice today, imagine what kind of world this could become.
FAITH ACTION: Put fresh life into everyone you meet today by a warm smile and genuine word of cheer.