THE DOVE Slave Lake, Wabasca, Peerless Lake & Red Earth

Pastor Ted Cunningham discusses the value of couples encouraging and supporti...

When Marcia’s out in public, she always tries to smile at others. It’s her way of reaching out to people who might need to see a friendly face. Most of the time, she gets a genuine smile in return. But during a time when Marcia was mandated to wear a facemask, she realized that people could no longer see her mouth, thus no one could see her smile. It’s sad, she thought, but I’m not going to stop. Maybe they’ll see in my eyes that I’m smiling.

There’s actually a bit of science behind that idea. The muscles for the corners of the mouth and the ones that make the eyes crinkle can work in tandem. It’s called a Duchenne smile and it has been described as “smiling with the eyes.”

Proverbs reminds us that “a cheerful look brings joy to the heart” and “a cheerful heart is good medicine” (15:30 nlt; 17:22). Quite often, the smiles of God’s children stem from the supernatural joy we possess. It’s a gift from God that regularly spills out into our lives, as we encourage people who are carrying heavy burdens or share with those who are looking for answers to life’s questions. Even when we experience suffering, our joy can still shine through.

When life seems dark, choose joy. Let your smile be a window of hope reflecting God’s love and the light of His presence in your life.

To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/110/29 3680 Bernard Bud Rauschenberger (Alcoholism, Debt, Hopelessness) As a child, Bud’s family only attended church on Christmas and Easter. He watched neighbors spend as much time at church as they did at the bar, and he doubted church was a transformative place. At fourteen, he and his best friend tried to make beer at home, and though that didn’t work out, he started a decades-long addiction to alcohol and cigarettes. Marrying and starting a family with his high school sweetheart, Nolene, didn’t change things. They just brought the kids to the bar with them. It wasn’t until Bud’s sister, Sally, invited him to her Bible study that his heart shifted. He gave His life to Jesus and got clean. He pursued restitution for the many debts he owed and started doing ministry work.