Feeling Welcome

Dime una sonrisa

In Salt Lake, a few of us spent a good portion of our layover exploring the airport and watching people as they passed.  We quickly noticed how few people actually acknowledged anyone else with a smile or said hello.  Of course, it became our mission to see how many people we could get to acknowledge us with a hello back, or even a simple smile.  Many people seemed too busy or in “mission mode”, hurrying to get to their gate, to even make eye contact, let alone show any joy in their facial expressions.

It is, however, unexplainable the happiness and joy we see on the faces of the people in Santo Tomas.  The difference is amazing.  It’s hard not to wonder however, exactly what the people have to smile about. The conditions of the streets and homes are something I have never seen; yet the happiness in the smiles of the people is contagious.  It’s beautiful how despite the language barrier, a smile is one thing we can share with each other across all cultures.  I truly feel the presence of God’s love in the simple smiles of the wonderful people of Santo Tomas.

It amazes me how caught up we can get in our own lives and forget about the world around us.  I have a challenge for you; let your love for Christ shine through your smile today.  You never know how a simple smile can influence someone’s day.  So, dime una sonrisa… give me a smile.

Steph Lincoln