Radiant Happiness - a voluntary quality such as when you decide to smile. It is cheerfulness, laughter, singing, joyfulness, bright eyes, sparkle, vivacity, enthusiasm, optimism, a sunny disposition, a sense of humor, smiles.....and the power to lift the spirits of others.
The difference between Radiant Happiness and Inner Happiness is that Inner Happiness must be earned through character.
I LOVE seeing smiling babies. It makes me sad to see small children who never smile. Even they shyest of children very often smile. Those who don't, well, it is just sad. Smiling is a gift we take to adulthood. Smiling can be a ministry, I truly believe that.
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| Cheri |
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| Andy |
I love walking through malls and purposefully smiling at others. If you ever want to lift your spirits, smile at others and life theirs. It is incredible what you get back. You can tell some people haven't smiled in months and they will smile back to you. Warms your heart. When your cheeks are sore at night, you've done your job!
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| Ryan |
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| Holt |
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| Ryan and Holt |
The other day at Sam's Club, there was a sweet older lady checking receipts as folks left the store. Hubs and I were over in the customer service area with a return and we were smiling and affectionate. Hubs leaned over the kiss me and I saw that sweet lady just start smiling so big. As we left the store quite a while later, I told her I loved her smile - a beautiful, loving smile. She was touched.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox:
It is easy enough to be pleasant
When life flows by like a song.
But the one worthwhile is the one who can smile
When everything goes dead wrong.
For the test of the heart is trouble
And it always comes with the years.
And the smile that is worth the praises of earth
Is the smile that smiles through tears.
Do you have Radiant Happiness? Do you bless your family with the traits of Radiant Happiness (above)?
I used to do this easily and lately, it's been more difficult. So much weighing me down. I have to give it to God and go back to gifting others with Radiant Happiness. I can attest - it is incredible.
Of course, there are times when smiling is not appropriate. There are times we should be sensitive to the situation or we look like we lack sympathy. In my case, many people/friends have seemed somber around me, with all my health issues....constant pain......they seem utterly shocked when I'm smiling and laughing any way, smiling through it. All we can do is get through it, right? (In fact, one of my favorite places to practice "smile ministry" is the hospital - those nurses are so worn down with all the sickness and illness, rare to find a patient able to smile and show them appreciation for all their hard work.) No sense in dwelling on what won't change......have to make the best of it. I don't know why or how this comes naturally to me, although I can say - after a lifetime of smiling, I just couldn't be that girl who was sad all the time. I didn't want to draw more questions, or more pity. It is what it is and my nerve pain came into my life for a reason. As I life and learn those reasons, I might as well smile. Sure beats crying!
How about you? Do you have any stories where smiling and Radiant Happiness impacted someone else?
"There is in this world no function more important than that of being charming - to shed joy around, to cast light upon dark days, to be the golden thread of our destiny, and the very spirit of grace and harmony. Is not this to render a service?" (Unknown)
