I have been often accused of not smiling enough. After so many years of people telling me this, I have no choice but to accept it as true. But do any of us smile enough? It’s not that I’m unhappy, it’s just that I guess I don’t have a smiley kind of face. I have a hard time smiling on cue—as in pictures. It always comes off looking fake. But it’s something I try to work on. But can you imagine not being able to smile even if you wanted to? Chelsea Thomas was born with Moebius Syndrome. Because she lacked a certain nerve in her brain, Chelsea was unable to smile. She just couldn’t! In December 1995, a team of doctors in Southern California operated on the sober-faced second grader. They removed a nerve from her leg and transplanted it in her face. Now, whenever Chelsea’s parents aim there camera in her direction, she can do more than just say “cheese.”
Maybe you feel the need for “smile surgery” at this time of year. Try as you may, you can’t seem to connect with the joy of the Christmas Season. It could be a memory problem. When we forget what we have to be grateful for, we stop feeling blessed. And when we lose sight of our blessings, joy evaporates with the morning dew. Before calling the doctor, try writing yourself a prescription. Take a sheet of paper and list five blessings God is allowing you to experience this Christmas. Focus on them and thank Him daily for His goodness . . . and smile! If I can do it, you can too.
. . . what a relief it is to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the smile of God! Please take my gifts, for God has been very generous to me . . . Genesis 33:10&11 NLT
Chris Higgins 