How to Spread SMILES – not germs! Idea #3: Suit Up

As The Healthcare Heroes are working tirelessly to defeat the villainous virus, COVID-19, the rest of the world is becoming restless.  

Frustrated residents of quarantined nations begin to emerge from their homes. Their shouts rise up piercing the tension in the air:

Traffic roars down once quiet streets.

Sirens howl as emergency vehicles rush to ever-increasing accident sites. 

Stores are overrun as shop owners desperately attempt to maintain social distancing among their customers. Food supplies once again begin to decrease.

An evil laugh captures the attention of a reckless world.

“See! You will never defeat me. I will win this battle!”

Worn, weary, battered, broken, our Healthcare Heroes hang their heads realizing they are alone in this fight.

Folks, we may not be on the frontlines but we are in the battle. Each of us has a responsibility to do whatever we can to stop the spread of COVID-19. What does that mean? Simple. Stay home, wash your hands often, don’t venture out unless it’s absolutely necessary and stay away from others.

When we do go out, we need to suit up for battle. We need to wear our protective masks. Remember, there’s still no vaccine for this nasty virus.

I know. The truth about these masks is they only keep the wearer from sharing germs with others. But if we’re all wearing them, everyone is protected. You see, no one truly knows what germs they may be carrying!

Don’t have a mask? Make one. There are DIY videos all over the place. Here’s one that I will be using to make my mask: Homemade Face Mask with Elastic – 10 Minutes (10 Minutes! Maybe it won’t turn out like one of my cooking fiascos!!)

I’ve even picked out my material.

(OK. It’s really all I have. I’ve raised boys and I know more about the Marvel universe than I ever imagined I would!)

After you make your mask, make a few to share with friends, nursing homes, church groups, whoever needs them. Or if you don’t sew, donate to someone who can or who is partnering with someone who can, like my friend here: Facemask Fundraiser for Senior Citizens

See, by suiting up with your mask or providing masks for others, you can SMILE knowing that you are doing your part in stopping the spread of this Villainous Virus.

Oh. How will we know you are SMILING under that mask?

Don’t worry. We’ll see it in those beautiful eyes. That’s the power of a SMILE!

Spread SMILES-not germs!

 

 

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How to Spread SMILES – not germs! Idea #1: Share a Good Word

Ugh! I am so tired of my Facebook feed being filled with negativity. Death tolls, fake news, criticism, media-fueled panic and paranoia – there’s only so much a girl can take!

It’s as if social media has contracted the virus and needs to be placed in quarantine!

So, what’s the cure for what ails social media?

A big ol’ injection of Positivity!

The next time you’re on your favorite site, why not share a good word? Positive news, funny memes, inspirational songs and anything else that provokes a SMILE will do.

Better, yet. Why not share God’s Good Word? No other words can bring peace, comfort, joy, encouragement and SMILES like the promises of the Heavenly Father! And boy, do we ever need His Word right now.

Here are a few to help you get started:

And this next one is my favorite:

(I almost used an image of a cup of coffee in that one. My morning cup of coffee definitely contributes to my Joy!)

Now, go post those Good Words today.

Spread SMILES – not germs! 😉

A Year of Smiles – Day 279

Reason to SMILE #279 – BECAUSE IT’S WORLD SMILE DAY!

Did you know that today, October 6, 2017, is World Smile Day? I didn’t until only a few moments ago. How did I not know about World Smile Day? Someone really needs to get me a better calendar!

Well, I’ve learned a few things about this awesome day (and you can learn more by clicking here). World Smile Day has been around since 1999. (Seriously, where have I been and what have I been doing all these years?) It is recognized on the first Friday of October each year and it is celebrated by doing an act of kindness to help at least one person to smile. I love World Smile Day. We should have so many more than just one!

It’s late in the day but there’s still time to make someone SMILE today. Find a frown and help turn it upside down.

You still here? Get out there and spread the SMILES!

A Year of Smiles – Day 226

Reason to SMILE #226: TRUTH

My SMILE today may seem a bit unusual and may not actually feel like a SMILE at all.  As I’ve been pondering recent events in our world, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a song I wrote many years ago.  My heart aches for our children and the world we have created for them.  My only solace is the Truth of God’s Word, the promises of His plan and surety of His control.  No matter what the situation around me, the foundation of God’s Truth on which I stand brings a peaceful SMILE to my soul.

I share the following with you in hopes that you will be inspired to make a difference in the world around you and to point the way to the TRUTH.

---

Fires burn across the land,

The smoke fills the skies.

Angry men shout out and scream;

Some break down and cry.

 

Children watch as people die;

They see the hate, the pain.

Their little eyes can’t believe

The suffering and the shame.

 

Is this the world we want to show our children?

Is this the place we want them to call home?

We tell them that we love them but don’t show them the same.

Is this the truth we want them to know?

 

I wrote these lyrics twenty-five years ago.  I was almost eighteen years old and had just watched news coverage of the Los Angeles Riots of 1992.  I was horrified as pictures of violence, hate, fear and desperation flashed before my eyes.  I was overwhelmed with uncertainty and fear even though I lived on the opposite side of the country.  I did not understand it all and I knew there were children and other young people trying to make sense of the chaos, as well.

I wondered what these children were learning from the situation.  What lessons about life were they gleaning?  Were they giving up all hope at that moment?  Was their innocence slipping away as disturbing images of humanity at its worst invaded their ideals of safety and security?  Were they resigning to believe that this was how life was supposed to be?  Were these children accepting the hate, violence and pride as their truth?

Now, twenty-five years later, we find ourselves seeing familiar images flash on our TV screens.  And I cannot help but wonder.  Where are those children who watched similar scenes so many years ago?  They are the adults of our world now.  Are they watching in horror as they did as a child?  Are they worried about their own children and the effect this situation will have on their young lives?  Are they outraged?  Are they scared?  Are they worried?  Or are they hitting the power button, shrugging their shoulders and walking away?  After all, that’s life.  That’s the truth of our existence and there’s nothing anyone can do about it….

Oh, my friends, there is hope.  We can redefine the truth that our world accepts today by pointing the way to THE TRUTH, Jesus Christ.  He is our only Way to healing, restoration and salvation.  He is our only Truth in the midst of the chaos and deception orchestrated by our enemy, the devil.  He is our only source of abundant Life, peace, hope and yes, SMILES.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

The road to Truth starts with Love.  Love starts with you and me.

A Year of Smiles – Day 79

SMILE Idea for Day 79:

Do something nice for someone in secret!

Leave a gift basket at someone’s front door.

Pay for a meal for a couple across the restaurant or a family in the drive thru line.

Leave a pre-paid gas card at a gas pump.

Whatever you can imagine that will make a difference in someone’s day, just do it and let God get all the credit.

Go make a difference on this Monday.  Then step back and watch how God can turn your secret acts of kindness into SMILES for all the world to see!

 

Image by symbols-n-emoticons.com

What If the Whole World Smiled?

Today I shared a book that I wrote a couple of years ago with the children at my church to encourage them to share God’s love with those around them through simple acts of kindness. After the reading, I challenged the kiddos to find someone who needs to know about God’s love and to choose something they can do for that person that will bring a smile to his or her face. For each act of kindness, the kids will earn a “Smiley Face” to place on a large world map hanging in our church hallway. Our goal is to “FILL OUR WORLD WITH SMILES.”

While preparing for the challenge, I began to wonder. What would it be like if I could get even more people involved? Could we fill the social media world or the blogging world with smiles? What if we determined to find one person each day to serve, to make a difference in that person’s life, to bring a smile to that person’s face? How far could this challenge reach? Could we really fill the world with smiles?

So, I extend the challenge to you. Let’s fill our world with smiles. Choose to make a difference in someone’s life today and share the love of God through your simple acts of service. Then share your experience with me. Post a “Smiley Face” in the comments below and tell me where you’re from and how you made a difference in your world. Let’s bring light to the darkness and see if the whole world really can smile.