A Smile A Day

It wasn't the first time I'd gotten a comment on my smile, but it was the first time it came from such a random source:
We stayed at a hotel for our first week (or two? It's seems so long ago that I don't even quite remember!) in the DR while we hunted for an apartment. If you've been following my blog, you know we flew in on an afternoon and went straight into a meeting with our lawyer, pastor, and president of the board that evening and got started on task lists right away. The hotel internet signal didn't reach the room I was staying in, so a lot of the work I did that week (or two) was done in the common area downstairs. The first morning at that hotel, I headed downstairs to grab a table and get some work done. One of the employees helped me locate an outlet to plug in to, then randomly said, "I hope I'm not out of line, but you have a really nice smile." (in Spanish, of course). I said, "Gracias!" and that was it. Very random - but since then, it's become semi-normal.

This past Sunday, after a conversation on the street in front of our apartment building with a neighbor I hadn't met before, the realization of how unstrange this particular conversation seemed made me think over the past few months and of how many similar encounters I've had since moving here:
The church we're involved with here is a little bit of a drive away. Although it's not further than most people in the States drive to go to church, they also have a small 'satellite' church closer to our apartment that I've recently had the chance to start getting involved in; driving my bike is a more convenient way but I can easily walk there if I give myself enough time. The big church has their Sunday service in the evening and the small church has theirs in the moring, so it works out pretty well. This past Sunday morning, I was on my way out, walking past our apartment building, when a kid (probably mid-teens) who was sitting out on the side walk (yes, that's normal here!) struck up a conversation after we exchanged "good mornings" (also normal here. You rarely pass anyone when walking without exchanging hellos). We hadn't met before but have waved to eachother on occasions when I drive out of the gate with my bike and he's at his usual spot, so he took the time to introduce himself and practice his English. After the usual friendly questions of where I'm from, where we learned eachother's languages, etc, (normal stuff in pretty much any 'introduction' conversation around here) I was about to turn away, ready to be on my way, when he made one last comment in English, with that Caribbean accent that always carries over, "I want you to know you have a beautiful smile!" I laughed, thanked him, said something along the lines of, "So do you" and went on my way.
During the rest of that walk to church, I found myself going over these past few months and how often I've heard that same comment, or a version of it, since moving here. When I started trying to count the number of times, I lost track - yet each time it always brightens my day.

Words mean a lot to me and many, many times it's on those days that I need an extra boost or something to cheer me up that a random stranger in a random place will inevitably comment on my smile:
a shopper in the shoe aisle (at the grocery store)
a bank teller (at the local bank)
a few waiters/waitresses (at restaurants and on the beach)
an employee (at the machanic's shop)
a motorbike salesman (at a large company)
a little girl (at church)
a receptionist (at the local internet carrier's office)
...and more
Sometimes it's a passing observance, sometimes it's thrown in as an ending to a conversation, sometimes it's been the start of a conversation that other wise wouldn't have happened...
The bank teller and a few of the waiters/waitresses recongize us now and have ventured to ask me questions about what we're doing here, etc; they have fun letting my bosses practice their Spanish with them.
The little girl at church ran in to breathlessly deliver a message to me from someone outside and right before spinning around, she kind of paused and blurted out that she likes my smile, then darted out to play with her friends again.
The receptionist motioned me over after we had closed on an internet contract and asked if we were Christians; it had been a bad day of the car breaking down and forgetting a passport, etc. so by the time we walked in the door of that business, I was tired and just wanted everything sorted out. She hadn't met us before, yet she looked right at me and said, "It shows on your face; especially your smile."

There are more little stories like those. And while the stories are fun little nuggets to tell, the whole point of this is not that I may have a nice smile!
On Sunday while walking to church and recalling a few of these instances, the realization hit me of how stingy I am with my compliments to people and how little I reach out to strangers passing me in the bread aisle.
I mean, I've always tried to smile at everyone - I try to smile at anyone who happens to make eye contact no matter where I'm at.
One of my favorite sayings is: When you see a person without a smile, give them yours.
I know the Bible verses of happy hearts and cheerful faces (Proverbs 15:13) and how laughter is good like medicine (Proverbs 17:22).
I've experienced the reality of fighting a depressing cloud covered view where no laughter, no smile, seemed genuine, and I've tasted the wonder and simple sweetness of laughing again and smiling 'with my eyes' after the sun broke through the clouds.
Smiles are some of the first things I notice on people and have brightend my day on so many occasions, so I've even prayed that God would reflect on my face and use a simple thing that doesn't require words to somehow speak life into someone's life.
That all sounds good, right?? It is.
But:
When I flashed a tired smile at that receptionist, I had no intention of striking up a conversation. It was out of habbit, not cuz I really meant it. She's the one who took the time say something that ended up being the highlight of my week. She may never know how thankful I am that she listend to the voice of the Spirit that day.
When I made eye contact with the other shoe-shopper, I had no intention of actually making the effort to maybe tell her that she was wearing a pretty necklace. Why would I? She was just another shopper and I was there to grab a pair of flipflops. Yet she took the time to say something that left an impression on me and a small conversation took place that otherwise would have been missed.
I haven't told the waiter at one of our normal lunch places that he always does a good job with our order or the waitress at the other one that she has beautiful eyes or the bank teller that it's great when he makes the effort to slow down his Spanish so Mrs. E. can understand him.

I'm oftentimes too busy to make the effort or too preoccupied with my own agenda to even think of it.
What about them?
Their words have made a difference to me. How have mine affected them?

Here's my challenge.
Reach out.

It might feel awkward or seem strange to tell the mom with her toddler that she has nice eyes or the freckled teenager in the next booth at the ice cream parlor that he has a great laugh or the elderly couple in church that they're an inspiration to you, but. do. it.
The mom may be exahausted taking care of her sick husband and five year old that she left at home.
The teenager is probably wondering if anyone ever notices him.
The elderly couple can be feeling like they're often overlooked.
We don't know their stories, but God does. He sees hearts and cares about His children. Let Him use you to make a difference.
Do it.
Reach out.
Make a difference in the life of a stranger today.
I can guarantee, they won't be strangers after you do, even if you never learn their name.

And while you're thinking about it, practicing on your family and friends doesn't hurt!