After suffering two strokes, my mother said to the doctor, “I don’t know why God didn’t just let me die?” The doctor said, “Must be God still has work for you to do.” Mom replied, “I can’t imagine what that would be. I’m no good for anything!”  Then the doctor offered this observation: “It’s your smile. When I walked into this room you smiled the most loving, beautiful smile. I think people right here in this nursing home need your smile.”

The reverend Jim Kok once wrote, “A friend of mine arrived at church early for a meeting, so she sat in her car listening to the radio.  Someone pulled in and parked next to her.  My friend turned and smiled.  A few minutes later there was a knock on her window.  It was the person she’d smiled at.  ‘Thank you for smiling,’ she said.  ‘I’ve had some very bad news today, and your smile just lifted my spirits.’  Yes, a smile can work wonders.”

A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.

William Hazlitt

Yes, it is so true – many times, all we need to do to lift a person’s spirits is offer a small gesture, one that takes very little time or effort. Author and educator Leo Buscaglia is credited with saying, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” 

Small gestures of human kindness have the power to make a difference. 

Whose life will you make better today with your smile?