Thursday January 16, 2014
A single facial expression or gesture can express so much about how a person is feeling or what they are thinking. Even though we have only been in Honduras a week and a half, it has struck me how much a smile means.
A smile speaks all languages no matter how much of a verbal barrier there might be. We want to bridge the gap where our words cant . . . our smiles do just that. As we walk around the village, malls, or down the street, maybe all we can say is a simple Hola!, make eye contact with those passing by and smile at them. Just possibly this is all it takes to reveal love. To see the faces of children look timidly at you, and then to see their eyes light up and their cheeks get big as a grin crosses their face all because you simply smiled at them, that has been my daily joy.
We walk around surprised when someone speaks in English or understand our English. The people here seem to have that same surprise on their faces when we take that opportunity to step outside of ourselves and connect with them on a human level. A level that says we are just like you, yes American, but not above you. How easy would it be for us to walk on by with our heads down not willing to make any eye contact with people? When I think of how Jesus treated people, I am so drawn to the effort that He put forth to relate to people, to be human with them, and allow them to live in the present. When we smile, wave, and make an effort to see another person’s humanity, we bridge that gap no matter how different they are from us. Our love for our Father speaks out of the kindness of our heart through our words and action.
“ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord” – Psalm 19:14
