My Husband "Subvet" says that when our first son "Sonshine" was born the sun rose on our world, when our second son "Gator" was born the sun laughed and when our daughter "Sugars" was born all the flowers bloomed. That says it all.

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning how to dance in the rain."
Anonymous

Your mind is the garden, your
thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can either be flowers or weeds. — William
Wordsworth

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

smile

When reading a book about the life of my confirmation saint, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla I was touched by her writings and letters.

especially this, from a letter to her husband written a few days before their wedding:

"St. Gianna wrote some of her thoughts on the value of a single smile, which her husband would later call her "true hymn to joy."

Smile at God, from whom every gift comes to us;

smile at the Father with ever more perfect prayer;

smile at the Holy Spirit;

smile at Jesus who you approach at Mass, in Holy Communion, and in Eucharistic adoration;

smile at the person who represents Christ on earth: the Pope;

smile at your confessor, the one who personifies God even when he challenges you to reject sin;

smile at the Blessed Virgin, to whose example you must conform your life, so that, seeing you, people might be led to holy thoughts;

smile at your Guardian Angel, because this angel has been given to you by God to lead you into Paradise;

smile at your parents, brothers, and sisters, even when they challenge your pride;

smile always in forgiving offenses;

smile in associating with others, banishing all criticism and murmuring;

Smile at everyone the Lord sends you during the day.

The world seeks joy, but cannot find it far from God. We must understand that our joy comes from Jesus.

With Jesus in our hearts, we bear joy--he is the strength that helps us.

Happiness is having Jesus in our hearts.

But the secret of happiness is to live moment by moment, and to thank the Lord for everything he sends us out of his goodness."



So, have you smiled today?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Such beautiful words to begin a new day!
Thank you!!!
~AM

A Bit of the Blarney said...

What wonderful words of wisdom!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!! It should be posted on a highway sign. Wishing you a grand day!!! Cathy

ellen b. said...

Yes...I have smiled and I appreciate the idea about smiling at the Triune God. So that's what I'm doing right now...