Just Smile

 

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, created in 1503

The Louvre Museum in France

"Da Vinci painted one Mona Lisa.  Beethoven composed one Fifth Symphony. 

And God made one version of you."

Max Lucado, Christian author

There she was - only 30 inches tall by 21 inches wide - staring right at me with her pretty (some say 'mystic') smile.  By me, I mean me and about 2800 of my closest friends from around the world who were gazing at Mona Lisa.  (That's how many on average go through the Louvre every hour.)

Her famous smile has been studied endlessly over the years and songs have been written - does it reflect sadness?  Reserved joy?  One story reveals that Lisa del Giocondo (the supposed subject) had just lost a child and bore another one, but was reluctant to smile fully as she was full of loss and happiness at the same time.

I like that account because it reflects us as women - we undoubtedly have suffered loss in our lives (miscarriage, divorce, loss of loved one), yet move on to experience joy as well.  The moving on is usually a requirement of our roles - mother, daughter, friend, caregiver etc.  People are always depending on us and we never want to let them down.  But God keeps track of our heartaches and losses -

"You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.

You have recorded each one in Your book."  Psalm 56:8

To me, maybe Mona Lisa's smile says she's the kind that watches us without judging and welcomes us back with a big hug.  Like her spirit animal is a golden retriever.  She knows in her heart we are going to fail but will be there for us anyway.  Like an attribute of our Lord - unconditional love not based on our efforts - that He seemed to put in mothers.  He doesn't ever leave us-

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

Psalm 34:18

Our focus is to serve with love, to nurture and to respond, because that's how God made us, though we don't always feel that we are beautiful on the inside.  But according to our Creator-

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7

Finding joy is the key to it all.  Focusing on gratitude that our Lord sees, hears, and loves us at all times and is completing us for His purposes, regardless of circumstances or worldly accomplishments.  We are worthy because He said we were, died on the cross for us, and is preparing a place in heaven for us. 

Truly the ultimate reason to smile through the pain. 

Besides, did you know that one UK study says a smile is the equivalent in brain happiness stimulation to 2000 chocolate bars?  But no calories...

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, 

You are our reason to smile.  You hold us, heal us, hear us and see us.  You never abandon us to find our own way, and there's always good that comes out of our struggles, because You direct it all.  Thank You for giving us the strength we need each day to navigate all the seasons in our life.  We trust You.  Amen.