Dear Reader:

When I turned to my Mary Englebreit’s calendar today and saw today’s illustration… I smiled. I remembered an incident that took place earlier this week that strengthened my earlier conviction that a smile can take one further than a frown in life.

I went to pay my Time-Warner bill at their office location, pulled the tab waiting number and sat down. It was unusually busy and the room was filled with audible (and exaggerated) sighs.

I mostly watched the news on one of the televisions and then used the time to re-arrange my cards in my purse while pulling out the one I was going to use to pay the monthly bill.

A young woman called out my name and I quickly jumped up and walked to her section of the counter. We were both smiling at each other and then she whispered “I was so hoping I would get you today and I did.”  “I needed someone like you.”

I must have looked puzzled because she said, “You always have a smile on your face when you come in here. Even if you are questioning a fee or if there is a problem, you never get mad…you stay pleasant and continue smiling.” 

I thanked her for the compliment. We finished the transaction and then once, again, she whispered to me. “When you turn around to walk out, take a moment and glance around the room. Look at what I get to see every day and then you will understand why the customers with smiles make my day.”

I nodded (with a conspiratorial wink) turned around slowly and began to walk out while observing the room closely. One man was returning equipment, his face was red, and it was easy to guess from his mutterings that this was not going to be a pleasant exchange. Three or four other people were talking into their Iphones complaining about the long wait to settle a cable problem, sighing audibly and shaking their heads. Two other women were sitting together with looks on their faces that resembled someone smelling something bad. They were literally glaring  at the counter.

By the time I got to the door….I turned quickly and silently mouthed “I’m so sorry….hang in there.” All I could think of was how grateful I was not to have that poor girl’s job. On the way home I thought of other thankless jobs people are forced to take sometimes out of necessity. Yet there was this sweet girl working at a cable office continuing to smile at mostly bad attitudes and/or unpleasant demeanor. 

I have decided to drop off a note from the (40 Days/40 Notes) project under the category of “someone struggling.” This poor girl needs an encouraging note badly.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” (Hanh Nhat Thich)

This was so true of the cable waiting room scenario. Everyone had a chance to keep a smile on their face and try to bring a little joy to others who had a tough job. Instead the majority of people waiting chose to frown and share their misery with others.

The way i look at it….life is just too plain short to waste it without a smile. I would love it when my time comes to depart to live with God…that people can say:

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”  (Dr. Seuss)

So until tomorrow…Let us remember that life is still worth living if we will just smile!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*I must share this amazing God Wink with you today. Wednesday afternoon, after coming home from the birthday lunch with Honey at the tea room, I saw a long rectangular box on the porch. It was so heavy I couldn’t really lift it….but I knew I had to get it off the porch since I would be gone.

I must have gone to 5 different neighbors’ homes but no was around….so I grabbed a knife and kept working at the thickest cardboard I had ever seen  and finally pushed it into my side. There I kept working on opening it until viola….I was able to pull enough of the cardboard back to see what my cousins (Marcia and Susan)  had sent me. It was a white headboard for the very guest bedroom I had been looking for one Tuesday with Anne.

Amazing Grace….Let God guide us and He does solve every problem….plus give us amazing family members/guardian angels….unbelievable Marcia and Susan….I love you! Next visit Marcia…you will have a back headboard to prop against.

*We just received some very sad news. Amanda, Kaitlyn’s sister, passed during the night. Please keep all the family in your ardent prayers! Thank you!