Smile

I was on a cleaning frenzy on the weekend.  I was going through and putting away a lot of the little things that get plied around the house.

I have a special keepsake wooden box where I keep important memories.  I had a couple of things to add to the collection so I opened the box and a flood of memories spilled out.  I paused my frantic cleaning, sat down and started to go through its contents.

I saw pictures from my baptism, love letters from my husband from when we were dating and a pictures of a old friend and I from a photo booth.  I sat and looked at myself, I had a huge smile and my eyes were full of life.  I thought to myself "I look happy."  Where did that person go?

Why have I let life control my emotions?  Why am I not enjoying life?  Where has my smile gone?
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My daughters have four days left of school, I am very excited about spending the summer with them.  I have a box full of goodies that we are going to work on and do this summer.  Originally I thought that that these activities were for building into them, but now I know they are just as much for me.

As I am working through the Fruit of the Spirit online workshop I am growing and stretching.  What a difference it is making in the decisions that I make and the way I react to different situations.

Today I am starting on a journey to find my authentic smile again.

If you have any suggestions or book recommendations please send them my way!  Thanks!