“Smile, when you think you can’t. Smile, get up and dance. Smile, there’s a bigger plan. The storm only lasts for a while. So smile!” The Sidewalk Prophets Photo credit to Claire Cottrill Photography

Facelift

Recently, I was invited to an on-line cosmetics party and the hostess asked a question about our biggest skin concern. My immediate response was, “I can only choose one?” But, out of the choices she offered, my answer was “wrinkles.” Spending time in the sun and the passing years show on my face. Some might say I’m in need of a facelift. You know, where they pull your saggy skin back and in the process give you a perpetual smile? No thank you! But the truth is, I do often need another kind of facelift. One that’s not given because of time in the sun, but rather, one that is the result of time with the SON!

“We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us imposters. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.” 2 Corinthians 6:8-10a (NLT)

Life is hard. You and I know that things don’t always go our way. Friends betray us. Jobs are lost. The world shuts down. Dreams feel out of reach. People die. We could spend all day adding to the list. And when I’m faced with worries, fears, and challenges? My face shows it. It’s not just my skin that sags, but my mouth droops, eyebrows slump, and my demeanor, well it just wilts, taking those around me down with it. You see, unlike the disciples, who, by the way, knew all about how hard life can be, I lose sight of joy. I need a face lift! Been there?

Throughout the Bible the disciples show us what it means to live with joy. Now you might be thinking, “Cindy, no one is happy all the time.” I agree. Joy and happiness though, are two different things. Being happy results from what’s happening around us. Always having joy, comes from the Spirit inside us. I’ll bet you’re like me and can name people in your lives who like the disciples, have experienced tragedy and yet rejoice. They’re the ones who remind us, that in the midst of our biggest concerns, we can still smile by lifting our face to the Son.

“Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Think about things of heaven, not things of earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

I continue to learn (yes, it takes me a while) that it’s all about perspective. If I stand too long in front of the mirror (focused on myself), all I see are the wrinkles of life. But a face lifted from the imperfections, heavenward toward Jesus’ perfection, allows us to echo Paul’s words above in 2 Corinthians 6:10, “Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.” Always, my friends! And that’s the uplifting way we want to face life and to share with others. Let me leave you with these words:

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15: 13 (NLT)

Now, if that doesn’t give you a everlasting smile, I don’t know what will!