Behind a smile...

I just wanted to write about my experience after work today.
I went to my usual petrol station, after visiting my parents, and as I was paying, the girl behind the counter said, "You have a very beautiful smile". I was taken back, and could only reply, "Thanks", but it got me thinking about my life - the story behind my smile.

There are many reasons for me to be bitter....but I am not bitter. Things in my story have not made me bitter, but better.

My smile is not always deliberate, but it is real. I have my Jesus... he has been with me every second of my life - he has been through the rubbish and through the joy. He has brought healing to my wounds. He has truly brought beauty from the ashes.

So, as I finish this post, I begin to wonder about other people's smiles... it is not necessarily those with no trials who smile the brightest. Often it's those who have been through the trials of life, and come out through the other side - out into the sunshine.

I have been through some dark places, but they never robbed me of my smile.
I guess my smile is a testimony of God's grace and love in my life :)

The silver lining of Blooming Where You Are Planted

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269881403131008&set=a.142822539170229.27785.142821199170363&type=1&ref=nf

The text says:

"God has put you where you are for a reason.
You are there to inspire, to bless and create 
a positive influence.
You are there to be
His hand, feet and mouth
Because He can use you to carry out His work.
Continue to be a blessing". 

Don't waste your petals

This rose... is the rose from the movie, Beauty & The Beast. 

The beast was given this rose after being enchanted from a Prince into an Hideous Beast. This was punishment for his his dark, hard heart. The only way of breaking the spell was to love, and be loved in return. His time limit was his 21st birthday, when the last petal would fall. If he did not break the spell by then, he would remain a beast forever. At the time, breaking the spell seemed hopeless.

Recently, God reminded me of this rose. He said, every person in this world is like that rose. Each of us is given the gift of life.

Like the rose, we all have a time limit. Like the rose, if we don't make the most of what we have before the last petal falls.... we have no second chance.

I felt God say that, like, in the story, each of us is given a chance.... each of us has a Belle in our lives - Jesus is our Belle. Our saviour. The one who can help us understand love and the reason for living.

We are not under some spell, but we do need to find Jesus before our last petal falls.
Like Belle, Jesus is the only one who can 'break the spell' leading to eternal despair...