The art of spreading smiles

Catherine Nicolette;
It was in Port Elizabeth, and Mom had come to visit me. It was not often we could get together, as the demands of my spiritual ministry were all encompassing and as a result, I often spent little time with my beloved family. However, today was a free day, we were both together, and had decided we would go down to the wonderful Port Elizabeth beaches to enjoy the scenery and seascape there. On the way, we both discovered we were hungry, as neither of us had yet had breakfast. A beach restaurant was just opening its doors, and we were the first customers. Mom was going  to treat me, no surprise as I was constantly broke. We were just about to sit down at the outside wooden tables and chairs, when Mom said, 'Wait!' and shot off down the stairs like a twenty year old. Startled, I looked where she was going. In the distance Mom had spotted a little lad who had ragged clothing. She chatted to him for a while in her inimitable Dutch way, and then escorted him back up the stairs with her. 'He's  honouring our family get together with his presence today,' Mom announced joyously. The lad sat at the table, and Mom ordered a full South African breakfast for three. When we left, the young lad was still tucking in to a second round of food Mom had ordered and paid for.

As we left, the young lad looked up at us and gave me the widest and happiest smile I have ever seen. He was thrilled, and enjoying a brilliant meal. Mom chuckled and told him, 'Enjoy your day.' She left beaming; he stayed beaming; and I have never seen him since. I was very thoughtful.

As we were walking up and down the serene beaches, our sandals leaving prints on the pearl grey sand, I asked Mom; 'Why did you do that?' Startled, she asked, 'Do what?' 'Pay for that lad's breakfast?' I asked. 'Oh,' Mom answered, 'I always do that. If I see someone that's hungry, I get them a meal. I also give them a smile, and chat with them. I lived through the war as a small child, and was always hungry. I realised after those days, that if someone is hungry, they can't enjoy their day. So it is my privilege to spread a little of the blessings God has sent my way with somebody else. At the end of the war, some of the GI's gave us food and chocolate; I've never forgotten how good it was to get those gifts from someone else's generosity and goodness. And now I try to spread that goodness to others.'

I have never forgotten that smile that beamed across that young lad's face. In that moment he was not disadvantaged, dressed in ragged clothes, or battling against the challenges that life had brought him. In that moment, through my Mom's sharing of what she had and her smile and maternal cheerfulness, he was A King. A king enjoying a wonderful meal, and basking in the smile of a motherly lady who really cared. And really, it was a beautiful picture. I realised that what I had always taken for granted, a mother's love and caring, had been a great gift to a young, lonely and disadvantaged lad. And I resolved to do the same.

Many is the meal I have given, the smile I have shared, and the kind word I have tried to give after learning from my mother's example. In the spirit of Lumiere, please consider giving a meal to someone you notice who is struggling in your area; share a smile and a kind word with them. Who knows what emotional healing a small act of kindness can given. In other words, reader, let us all enjoy practising ... the art of spreading smiles.

Enjoy your day!

Photograph was taken by Rev. Catherine in Maharashtra, India. The nature there is exquisite ... please feel free to use the picture copyright free for any educational or spiritual purpose.