“Use your smile to change the world but don’t let the world change your smile.”  ~Author Unknown

Last Friday was World Smile Day. Sometimes all it takes to make a day a bit better is a simple smile, whether someone gives it to you or if it’s one you share with someone else. Whether it’s just a simple compliment, a cheery hello or a word of thanks, it will always generate a smile.

Sometimes we take our smile for granted but your smile most certainly is beautiful and always makes a difference. Very simply when we frown there is fear and when we smile there is love present. They say smiling is one of the best beauty remedies that costs absolutely nothing.

Scientists tell us that smiling lowers your heart beat and reduces stress levels. They also tell us that smiling can lift your mood and lengthen your life expectancy. Smiling is also contagious and we can recognise a smile on someone’s face up to 300 feet away.

In relation to our Gospel stories it is my firm belief that Jesus smiled a lot. We don’t have photos of course but I am fully convinced that he had the most beautiful smile. People always warmed to him and connected with him straight away. This could only have happened because of his beautiful smile.

I now do the sign of peace at Mass by saying ‘With just a wave, we will offer each other the sign of peace as a sign of the importance of community and the importance of coming together.’ What happens is just beautiful. Everyone as they wave are smiling at each other. It goes beyond words.

World Smile Day encourages us to keep smiling. Nobody else has your beautiful smile and your smile makes a beautiful difference every single day.