Thursday, January 17, 2019

Dear God,

A simple smile can turn a hard day upside down.  Why or how?  A smile is an intentional gesture, a gift, unexpected, unwarranted and unnecessary; yet, it has power to change the human soul.

I remember a high school friend that I ran in to in a restroom in an airport in Chicago, Illinois.  Her face was splotchy.  It was clear she had been crying.  She was distressed and overwhelmed.  She had been sick and needed to get back home from the Mormon community in Salt Lake City to Elwood, Indiana.  Although I had not seen her for 30 years, I recognized her the moment I saw her.  The moment I identified myself from the past, she broke down and cried.

Over the course of the next several minutes I ascertained the problem.  She could no longer work because she had developed some sort of skin disease while working as a motel maid.  She had run out of money and hope.  I told her together we could resolve both.  As I smiled, she smiled back.  Giving a gift to her, she gave a gift right back.

Holy God,
you send us angels
to help us.
You smile down
upon us
allowing that smile
to change us,
bringing hope,
strength and courage.
There is
no god
like you.
Thank you
for my friend
of long ago.

Love, Andrea