The Power of a Smile
I watched a mother interacting with her two young sons this weekend and I have not been able to stop thinking about them since. The boys, probably ages 2 and 4, were very well behaved, although she did have to ask them to speak more quietly and not toss their hats and coats on the ground a couple of times. It was probably a rather normal occurrence in the life of this mother and many other mothers around the globe. What I found captivating was her demeanor.
This woman always looked at her boys with a smile, on her face and in her eyes. Even while asking them to change their behavior she smiled. Her face glowed as she looked into their eyes and talked to them. Any casual observer could see the love she had for them so her boys must have seen it too.
I cannot get the picture of that from my mind. It was the most beautiful thing I had seen in quite a while.
Smiling has been the subject of many studies over the years and it is believed that it has many positive effects on us, including lowering blood pressure, releasing endorphins, changing our mood and boosting the immune system. That is what it does for the person smiling but I think its effects are felt even more strongly by the person being smiled upon. If you have ever walked into a room and had someone you love light up upon your arrival you know what I mean. How wonderful for those little boys to see and feel their mother's love constantly. In fact, without those looks of love, her words of love would no doubt sound hollow.
It has often been said that it is with our actions that we speak most loudly. May we all try to be a little more like that mother and show our loved ones how much we care with every look.
family, healthy living, relationships, smile in About My Day 
Reader Comments (1)
I could not agree with you more! I smile at everyone, and receive a range of reactions from being smiled at in return to looked at quizzically (Why is this random woman smiling at me?). I always think a random smile brightens days, though, and it makes me feel good, so why not? I'm sure the mother was all the more beautiful because of it. :)