God's Still Working on me

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure, scattered along life’s pathway. The good they do is inconceivable.” -Joseph Addison

The Smile Experiment

In high school and college, I could hardly make eye contact with people I didn’t know, much less smile; I would avoid social situations. God had other ideas. My room-mate was one of the most well-known, popular girls on campus who was involved in everything, including the traveling singing group, so everyone knew I was her room-mate. Painfully, I learned how to stop my feet and talk to those I didn’t know. I even smiled sometimes. But God wasn’t finished with me yet.

Have you met my husband? He is bold, brave, and quite the talker. I have learned much about talking to people from him. He has encouraged me to leave my comfort zone and say hello and smile. But God wasn’t finished with me yet.

I’ve become much friendlier since I’m a mom. Ever see those tiny babies in the store? They just make you smile. When I first started taking baby Timothy places, people would smile, and even stop, and chat. I heard about strangers' red-headed grandchildren more times than I can remember. Even tough tattooed motor-cyclers smiled at my baby. I have always been a little nervous about talking to strangers, but God wasn’t finished with me yet.

My grandpa was in a nursing home when Sarah was born and I was there at least twice a week. Grandpa’s room was at the end of a long hallway, and it was amazing how all those people’s faces would smile to see Tim toddling down the hallway. I found myself stopping so little ladies could peek in on baby Sarah and then tell me how much their newborns weighed. I was starting to become less shy and realizing that in talking to others, I was giving them the gift of listening. But God wasn’t finished with me yet.

Twins added a whole new dimension. Having four kids under four years old seemed to evoke some pity among strangers, and a few, “I remember those days.” We went camping with 18 month old twins. A lady smiled and simply said, “It gets easier, really.” Turns out she had 8 year old twins. But God wasn’t finished with me yet.

This new chapter afforded questions from strangers. “How do you do it?” I heard a lot. I gave a lot of “arrow answers,” where you simply point to God and His grace. But God wasn’t finished with me, not yet.

Now, I have a four-year-old who is as social as his father. Not Ryan as a shy child (yes, I didn’t believe it either), but Ryan as an outgoing person, only Lucas lacks tact and maturity. My Lucas stands on the end of the shopping cart, smiling from ear to ear and waving hi at each person he passes. He makes eye contact and even touches people. He touched the arm of an older gentleman who looked none too friendly and I was shocked as a beautiful smile etched his face and he said, “well, hello there young man.” But God wasn’t finished with me yet.

Last month, we went downtown and watched dancing at Rosa Parks Circle. It didn’t matter if the person was the cop on duty or a Goth teen with a Mohawk, Lucas would smile, say Hi, put his hand on their arm or leg and ask their name. He talked to everyone that night and seemed to think they had all gathered just to talk to him. He even joined the line dancing. He asked the cop to dance. The stern officer smiled, “I’d love to, but I’m on duty.” When Lucas turned to wave goodbye, at least half the crowd waved, even the Goth kid.

But God isn’t finished with me yet, and you know what, I am glad.