Willow Branches in Autumn Winds

Smiles on Mother’s Day

One summer at camp, we each brought home a piece of construction paper on which everyone in our group had written something they liked about us. Several people had written on mine that they liked my smile. At the time, I thought they had just said that because it was something generic you could say about someone without really having to give them a compliment. I had a hard time believing people actually liked my smile, because my self-esteem was kind of low, and because my teeth were (and still are) pretty crooked.

But, as I’ve grown into an adult, I’ve been complimented on my smile many more times. I once visited a church for the first time and smiled at the greeter at the front door, who looked at me and said, “You have a wonderful smile!” Another time I was walking in our neighborhood and saw a surly, strutting, pants-sagging teenage boy walking toward me with a scowl on his face. As I passed I looked right at him and smiled, and you should have seen the transformation. His whole face lit up as he smiled back.

Now, lest you think I am bragging about myself, the reason I share this with you is because I know where this smile comes from. I have seen my mother flash a warm, winsome smile at strangers at the grocery store and at my sister’s stepdaughter the first time she spent a holiday with our family. My friends from grade school through college have mentioned my mom’s smile, and how it made them feel welcome when they visited my house.

I can’t take credit for the smile that others have noticed and praised—it’s just one of the many gifts I have received from my mom.

Thanks, Mom! I hope you had a great Mother’s Day!