Christian Living

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A friend recently asked me to read a short story from a church newsletter. I willingly obliged, as I knew it had to be something worth reading, especially when that friend is your boss.

As I began to read the story, it made me think about the times I had taken God’s smile for granted. We all do it–daily, yet how often do we stop and realize the wonderfully simple blessings we overlook?

While reading, I paused to think about the faith that children possess. It’s so simple. They’re amazed to know that God created the stars in the sky or the sun that shines down on them. They don’t take anything for granted. If you tell them that something as basic as the rays of sun warming the summer air is from God, that’s all they need to know and they’re off to play again, basking in the glow of both the sun and the Son.

When something good happens, children realize where it came from. Why, as Christian adults, do we allow this to change in us as we get older? We take our focus off of God, and place it on factors that seem more important to us, like working, paying bills or trying to outdo or out-purchase our neighbors.

The story is simple, but says a great deal…

A wealthy Texas businessman told a pastor this story about his childhood. He said that when he was a little tot, he saw the sun shining through the old roof on the porch where his mother was standing. He asked his mother what the light spot on the floor was.

His mother knew that it was sunlight, but decided to relate the sunny spot to God. “That,” she answered, “is God smiling down on us.” The boy walked over to stand in the light. “What are you doing?” the mother asked.
“I’m standing in God’s smile,” he joyfully replied.

The little boy grew up and went into business, gained success, but drifted away from God. After his mother died, he had the task of selling the old home and dealing with all of his mother’s possessions. One day he was in her attic looking around, when he noticed a pair of children’s shoes. He picked them up and discovered a folded piece of paper inside one of them.

When he unfolded the paper, he saw these words written in his mother’s handwriting: “These are the shoes my little boy wore the day he stood in God’s smile.”

That was the day the man was challenged to change his pattern of living. Tears welling up in his eyes, the man told the minister that the experience prompted him to get right with God.”

It’s so very simple, yet we try to make it so complex. It’s amazing how much we take for granted the simple things that mean so much to all of us. Make it simple and smile.

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