| Smiling: A Needful Thing Dear Sisters in the Lord I am convinced that my children are affected by my smile. There are days when I don't feel like smiling much, and my children look at me, searchingly. At the time this happens, it doesn't always dawn on me that they are searching for something that I can give them so freely. My smile. It is their daily fix. It is their daily nourishment from mamma. It is a needful thing. Sometimes, when I awake, I pass a child floating down the corridor on their way to the bathroom, and although we may both be pleasantly heavy with sleep, and unable to even mutter "G'mornin'", our eyes meet and I smile at my offspring. Without fail, my offspring will smile back at me. Oh, how precious this is. Sadly, I don't think of moments like this as often as I should. Sadly, I don't appreciate the fact that my smile, and their reaction to my smile can set a pleasant pattern for our day; fill it with the small, intrinsic family joys. Our lives have been so busy, so full with much on our 'to do' lists. I often feel that I am not giving to my children the things that they need. Not material things. Rather ~ my time, my attention, letting them see ~ showing them how fascinated I am with them. This has been my standard for them, and of recent times, I fear I may have been negligent in this standard. Have you felt this way, dear sisters? Do you get caught up in your targeted destinations, not living to the full your journey with your children? Oh, these precious gifts from God. Before we know it, they will be all grown. How I desire to be a great mother to them. Here and now. While they are still impressionable. When times like this occur ~ busy busy times, I know that my smile will go a long way. If we can't share a sit-down conversation, as we are busy in our daily 'needful things', we smile. I smile at them, and they smile right back, but it seldom ends there. We stop and cuddle and squeeze and tickle. Then we get back to the needful things at hand. I desperately want my children to know that they are my partners, my comedians, my artists, my hobby, my favourite past times. I am their audience, and they are mine. I want my children to see me smile at their father, too. The other day, when we were sitting together and joking around, Emma said to both of us "I hope you and dad aren't going to be silent and miserable towards each other in your old age, but then again ~ I don't think there's much chance of that!" We all laughed. She's right! Much love and many smiles to you all. Helen |