My daughter had a full head of hair since birth. I’m talking some 2-year-olds couldn’t compete with her locks! For the first year, her hair made her seem older than she was. 

During an afternoon in Starbucks I could see some sweet ladies making eyes at her across the lounge. Most people do because – let’s be honest – she’s adorable! Finally, one of the women came up to me and told me that she was having a rough day and she would love a smile from my little girl. 

As she was talking to me, it was such a sincere request. However, making my daughter smile at 2 months was a mixed bag. She was still in the gooey baby phase. She didn’t even hold toys yet! After saying a speedy internal prayer, I jiggled my little one around in my lap and she flashed a quick gummy smile at the woman.

Thank goodness!

This got me thinking. Smiling has an impact on other people that often goes unnoticed and unacknowledged. There is something pure about a child’s laugh and smile. Somewhere along the way we taught ourselves to be sarcastic, mean, manipulative, and cynical.

When Jesus preached to the multitudes, he taught that from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34) Let’s make our actions “speak” of kindness, grace, and inclusion.

Smiles have more of an impact than we realize. Let’s use them extravagantly.