A few years ago, I took a strengths/personality test and the results pretty much pegged my personality to a “T”. One section of the test, listed my top 25 characteristics in order and at the top learner, disciplined, focused, which didn’t take me by surprise. However, what did take my by surprise was the very bottom characteristic -- #25 encourager. Really? I don’t encourage those around me...I was shocked...no really I was appalled. How could a personality test order my characteristics and put encourager at the bottom. So, what do I do? I ask my husband and he tells me, “you are not the best encourager”. Yikes...did he really say that?
“To become an encourager” was added to my prayer list. Over the past few years, I have worked at becoming an encourager. Sometimes, it just doesn’t seem natural. Well, honestly, some days it is hard--it is #25 in a list of 25 assessed characteristics! However, I am aware that encouraging others doesn’t come easy to me and I must work at it. I made the decision last year to encourage my children each morning by saying “It’s a great day to be awesome” before they leave for school. I know when I am serving others, I always have the biggest smile on my face. My heart is filled with joy and my face beams with a smile, just knowing I was able to help another person. As I keep working at this, one thing that I do know...that the smile on my face is just as encouraging as any note, surprise visit, or even small gift.
We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. -- Mother Teresa
The other day, I sent one of my close friends and her daughters each a bracelet, just to let them know I am thinking about them during this difficult time. My friend’s daughter said, “She is not taking hers off”. This made me smile and I was hoping just to make them smile. We just don’t know what a simple smile can do, however by giving away a smile we know that another smile will be given away.
Take a moment and think to yourself, how simple is it to smile. A smile, the simplest form of encouragement. A smile, the simplest form of prayer. A smile, the simplest form of gratitude. Just think you give a smile away, think of where your smile is going to go, when it is given away to someone else.
I “mustache” you and challenge you to give a smile away today.