As I sat patiently in the room awaiting the consult with a new physician, I enjoyed the snacks and bottle of water provided by the clinic. This was a first! I have waited extensively for physicians, but never offered refreshments. I was informed it would be awhile before the doctor arrived.

I was prepared for the delay while listening to my audio book. When the door opened and the doctor “stepped in”, she thanked me for the couteous greeting and smile. I was somewhat taken aback.  She proceeded for several minutes about the fact so few patients are congenial upon her arrival. I was perplexed as to why anyone would not be pleasant.

I reflected on my current life’s situations.  Certainly my outward smile camouflaged the melancholy I endured. However, I believe no one in my sphere should be the recipient of my individual challenges. I also learned decades ago, that often other’s problems are more challenging than my own.

When the doctor noted her delight in my smile, I told her I share it  often, for the Lord has blessed me. We then briefly discussed aging, abilities and opportunities.  It is a choice, our choice to be miserable, defeated and sullen or joyful and contented.

The majority of all people have at least one circumstance in their life which causes disappointment and/or grief. Most of us have several. How we handle these truly demonstrates our walk with God.  The phrase of “what would Jesus do” is always applicable in our lives. How would Jesus handle this? Did he walk throughout the paths of his life, being downtrodden? “

No,  John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” Yes, Jesus had times of sadness and heartache. Rick Warren reminded us, “he felt all the emotions, feelings and pain of a normal human being but was still operating in omniscience and yet He was moved to tears when He saw the grief surrounding Lazarus’ passing, a grief He also felt…as Lazarus had been a dear friend to Him too.”

 Jesus, knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, so why was He sad? Rick repeated Jesus’ humanness for us to be reminded we all have times of dispair, “Jesus went through the grieving process and expressed His grief through tears as an example to all of us that …it is quite normal and perfectly okay to feel sadness…There is no thing on this earth that we as God’s children have been asked to do where we can’t point to an example of Jesus enacting the same.”

How I love the Lyrics in Annie, for it reminds me that as Christians, we may cry today, but tomorrow is a new day and we should never be down when God is walking with us. So yes, that’s why I smile when my heart hurts. That is why I’m joyful to others when I ask God often “why?” Their day may be worse than mine and I know God’s standing with me.

As Martin Charnin in Annie wrote, “The sun’ll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be sun. AND ALWAYS there will be God, standing with His arms open to remind me-SMILE-Life is good! Philippians 4:4 NIV, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice.”