Walking in the Valley A bi-weekly column, featuring one Christian's (a)musings on life's journey by Barbara Dahlgren

A Gift That Keeps on Giving Column for the weeks of December 16-31, 2007

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After doing a little Christmas shopping at Costco, I smiled at a middle-aged woman who was going in as I was heading for the parking lot. (Actually, I don’t know how old she was because now that I’m 60 I view the people’s ages in a different light. Let’s just say she wasn’t young.) Anyway, the lady looked at me and said, “Are they any nicer in there than they are out here?”

Hmmmm…I thought. “I’m not sure,” I said, “but I hope I am!”

December is a hectic time of year. Christmas preparations can weigh us down and give us the gloomies. Parties, decorating the house, business mailings, working extra hours, long lines, traffic jams, and family time can take its toll on our nerves and tempers. And then there’s trying to find the right gift for each person on your list. Gift giving can be expensive. However, I think I know a present you can give to everyone you see at this time of year and it doesn’t cost a thing. SMILE!

Smiles are the perfect gift for all genders, all cultures, all languages, all races, and all ages. They can be given to friends, relatives, business associates and strangers. One size fits all and they are guaranteed to make a person look younger and attractive.

A smile is the gift that keeps on giving. It benefits the giver and the recipient. Research shows that smiles can change moods, relieve stress, boost immune systems, lower blood pressures, plus release endorphins, natural painkillers and serotonin in the body.

Smiles are contagious – in a good way. Daniel Goleman, PhD and author of Social Intelligence : The New Science of Human Relationshipsexplains a key to understanding this is called mirror neurons. We all have mirror neurons. Goleman says their only job is to “recognize a smile and make you smile in return.” Of course the same goes for a frown. So you choose. Would you rather have people frowning at you or smiling? Did you know even faking a smile can lead to feeling happier?

We can even learn something from babies. A newborn shows preference for a smiling face over a non-smiling face and babies give special smiles of joy and happiness for their loved ones. Speaking of babies, what about the one this season represents? Jesus came so people would have something to smile about. Before he came, there was no hope. There was great celebration when Jesus was born. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” (Luke 2:8-14)

Christmas is about celebrating! It’s all about smiles. You can decorate, party, shop, sing carols, and even spend time with your family, but if you aren’t smiling, you aren’t really celebrating.

Smile! You can do it. It won’t hurt much! It takes no extra time or money. It’s a gift that keeps on giving and comes back to you. I can’t help but think that when we smile at others, Jesus smiles at us.

M e r r y, M e r r y C h r i s t m a s !

Be sure to visit this page often to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.