Smile Wrinkles

Driving the other day, one of my children started talking about wrinkles.  He was concerned that he might be developing wrinkles around his eyes from smiling.  One by one, he had each one of us in the vehicle smile – so that he could determine who had wrinkles.

As he evaluated the faces around him, he discovered that most of us had smile lines around our eyes.  “Oh no, that’s a lot of wrinkles.  I will just have to stop smiling.”

Just have to stop smiling?  Can you imagine?

I had to laugh as he was carrying on.  Uh oh…more smiling.

This child, who is perpetually cracking jokes and being ridiculous, thinks that it is a good idea to stop smiling so he will not get wrinkles?

The conversation progressed and the children started discussing how many muscles are required to smile and how many are required to frown.  They tossed out a bunch of numbers and in the end decided that they would actually develop more wrinkles by frowning than by smiling (I guess wrinkles are inevitable).

There are people who seem to frown or scowl a lot.  There are others who wear rather bland expressions and there are some whose smiles split their faces.  I know that there have been times when I have worn an unpleasant expression.  There are also times when I have smiled until my face hurt!

Given the choice, I know how I want my wrinkles to grow.

Job 9:27
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile

If Job, who endured the loss of everything in his life except his Lord, could smile how can I not?

Psalm 68:3
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

Proverbs 15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful

Proverbs 15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine 

It is good for us to smile, healthy even.  Decorate yourself with a smile today and earn those wrinkles!