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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 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.
“Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25b). 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 15:30a (NLT) 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. Smiles are always legal, always welcome.
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.” Smiling doesn’t cost a penny, doesn’t even take any of your time. Nothing could be easier to do. But you’ll have to remind yourself!
I have learned that my natural look is evidently not a happy look. It seems when I’m concentrating on something, 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 had a bad habit to break. I had to reprogram myself so that my natural look is more joyful, not worried or preoccupied.
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. Have you looked in a mirror lately? Give the gift of a smile today. It can work miracles.
