I believe the most powerful and beautiful feature a person has is their smile. This week at Popup Kids I worked with the three and four year olds and joy truly radiates from them. Working with these kids has changed my life forever. On Monday as we went outside for our afternoon playtime I got to meet the beautiful babies from the one and two year old class. As I smothered the kids with hugs and kisses I tried to get a smile from every baby I met. Yet, when I met Bali she did not smile. When I looked into Bali’s eyes all I saw was a sadness, her expression was almost emotionless. Bali, is one of the most beautiful little girls I’ve ever met. I asked her teachers if something was wrong and they informed me that she was always like that. As, I grabbed Bali, she wrapped her entire body around me and just laid on me. Every day this week I would go to the baby area and tried to see Bali for a couple of minutes yet I never got I smile. I don’t know if she smiled or laughed with any of her teachers but she never did when I was around. Every day my heart would break a little more because a child should have joy, a child should always be laughing. Laughter is such an important part of my life and it hurts my heart that a child can’t smile.
Thursday afternoon was going as scheduled, at 2:30 pm we went to the playground for the afternoon playtime. I decided that I was going to let my class play and I would go a pay a visit to the babies as I did every day. I picked up Bali and brought her to the big kids playground. I noticed that Bali was looking at the other kids play so I decided to bring her to the slide. I walked her up the slide and held her hand as she slid down. I noticed that she smirked when she reached the ground. I then began to clap and yell “yay Bali you did it” I told her how beautiful and special she is. I then took her up the slide again, held her hand while she slid down. This time she gave me a half smile. I repeated the clapping, yelling, and jumping. I took her up a third time and this time I got the coveted smile. I then picked her up and gave her a big hug. I reached my goal of making her smile but what happened next shocked me. I walked her up the slide, held her hand as she slid down but this time instead of a smile she began to jump, laugh and clap her hands. Not only did God allow me to see her smile he allowed me to see her truly rejoice and celebrate. Thursday, was a special day.
The story doesn’t end with Thursday, today, as I walked over to the baby playground her teachers told me Bali was like a different person. As I looked over I saw her laughing and playing with her friends. God is so Good. Bali will forever be in my heart and I urge you all to join me in praying that her smile never fades. 
