I had been completely oblivious to his presence as he snuck up behind me.  His words caught me unaware, leaving me nauseated and dizzy as if from a blow. It was a sucker punch from behind and as I reeled around to face my assailant I reached out to steady myself.

Hot tears filled my eyes as I stood before my attacker.  There he stood, all 4 feet something of him, with those big blue eyes, and gobs of unruly blonde hair.  He looked at me for a moment with his hands on his hips before he launched his final assault.

“Mom, I just want you to smile, okay?”

I dropped the pile of linens I was attempting to fold and pulled my son toward me in a warm embrace.

He was right, it had been a while since I had felt free enough to laugh or even smile.  Life had been rough the past month and to top it all off I had been pretty sick.  No, There was not much to smile about these days.  Apparently, my sensitive son noticed it.  Not much gets past that little guy and it would be him who would have just the right words to stop me dead in my tracks and help me rethink my position on life in the midst of the current storm we found ourselves fighting.

Even after I asked for forgiveness and made some very big and silly smiles to cheer him up I knew it would not be enough to change everything and yet somehow it was.  As I lifted all things heavy and burdensome to the Lord that day in prayer, the weights I have been trying to carry on my own became weightless in His Omnipotent grace. 

What about you?  Where is your smile today?  No matter where your heart is hiding today, He is there waiting to give you your joy back.   Take my advice for guaranteed success in this one area today.

Stop, Drop and Pray.

 Peace, purpose and His guiding presence be yours in abundance today.