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PROGRAM D-7207

Merry Christmas!  How many times have you heard that already this season?  It just wouldn’t seem like Christmas if we didn’t get some cards with those familiar words on them, or hear someone say to us “Merry Christmas!”

It’s a good word—merry—but as we know, not everyone is merry at Christmas.  However, it is possible as believers to be merry even when the circumstances are not good.  Here is the secret to a merry heart.

Proverbs 11:25:  He (or she) who refreshes others will himself be refreshed!

The Bible is packed full of promises for people who give of themselves to others. You can have a merry heart by helping others have a merry heart.  And how can you do that?

SMILE!  This is so simple, yet so powerful.  Proverbs 15:30 says “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart…”  There’s no one who can say that they cannot give a cheerful look.  You can give a smile to people, regardless of who they are, who you are, or how you feel.

If you have never developed the habit of smiling, you can change.  Find ways to remind yourself to smile at other people.  Pray about it each day.  “Lord, give me a cheerful look, so that I can bring joy to the hearts of others.”  Put a smile sign on your desk, over your sink, on your screen saver.  Smiling doesn’t cost a penny, doesn’t take any of your time.  Nothing could be easier to do.

I have learned that my natural look is evidently not a happy look. When I’m concentrating on something, evidently I look as though I’m worried or upset.  It used to make me angry that people would draw those conclusions about me.  I thought they were wrong for jumping to conclusions.  However, I now realize it’s my job to keep a joyful look on my face.  I’ve got a bad habit to break.

Remember, a cheerful look brings joy to the heart.  It brings joy to the heart of those who look at you.  And guess what, it brings joy to your own heart.  You get some good endorphins going in your head when you smile, and that will pick you up.  If you refresh others with a smile, you will refresh yourself as well.   So, give the gift of a smile today.  You’ll be surprised at how effective it is.