Gone to bed

Is the setting sun

Night is coming

And day is done

Whippoorwill

Whippoorwill

Has just begun

I was a little early to a client's house recently and decided to sit in a parking lot underneath a remarkably large pine tree in my car while it was raining.  The tree had new growth that was colorful and bright.  Even the rain couldn't squelch its splendor.  In fact the drops only added effect and beauty to the photograph I took.  

I think I'd like to be more like the pine,

I have loved this song for many years...it is a favorite classic around the world, written by a long admired, yet controversial actor, Charlie Chaplin.  It was first recorded with lyrics by Nat King Cole and performed and recorded thereafter by numerous stars.  What an interesting theme - so adopted and practiced by a large majority of humanity.  It seems that my parents' generation continued this tradition of "putting on a happy face" - often keeping emotion and sadness behind a shell of hope and denial of "life-gone-bad" experiences and trials. 

Me?  I am the queen of smile.  I don't say that arrogantly.  When you happen to be a "smiler" others usually think you are simply happy all the time.  For whatever reasons, my face has adamantly declared the good and pleasant, regardless of my heart condition.  I have had plenty of heartache and trial, yet ever recognized reasons to smile.  Somehow, I have always had an inclination to look at the "pretty", no matter how difficult the road of life.  I can't say it is a bad thing, and perhaps the hard-working generations before me had it right in rarely speaking of fear or sorrow.  I have known some who smile very little and truthfully, they are not the easier ones to spend time with.  Smiling is attractive and inviting.  People are usually looking for reasons to smile in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving.

I like to believe that I smile because of hope and pleasantries offered me by my amazing Maker.  Perhaps sometimes we smile simply to pretend trials are less and to attempt to connect with others, since isolation is not a fun place to dwell.  Sometimes it is just a reaction.  When heart break is exploding inside, yet the laughter of a child or that bright yellow finch momentarily conquers sadness, there is no greater treasure.

At any rate, smiling was given us as a gift.  Whether it is a response or used as a mechanism to hide behind or find hope, it remains a choice and a place to "land" if we but chose to.  I know we are told to "give thanks in all things".  Thanksgiving is often accompanied by a smile.  So...I will seek to be thankful today....and smile.

Smile

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll seethe sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

Sometimes ya just gotta say to your self, "I WILL beeeee happy."  There is a verse in the book of Matthew that talks about how God cares for us, and He uses the example of how He cares for the birds, yet we are still more important to Him.  

Note to self:  "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all those things will be added....."

These guys just keep coming!  My feeders look like dots of yellow sunshine!  The rain has been deluging our area until yesterday when it was beautiful.  The floods have the entire midwest scurrying to save homes and businesses.  Today another pour-down day and not much more promise for tomorrow.  I think it has affected my general attitude!  But here I found some sunshine.  Lesson for the day:  When heaviness pushes hard against a heart, there seems to be a hand of rescue when we but notice - even in the rain!