Story Time

A SMILE.

Karen got up bright and early after a good nights sleep. She felt good inside, and after morning worship with her mum, dad and two sisters, she felt even better. After breakfast she left the house and skipped down the road smiling happily.

Matt, on the other hand, was in a terrible mood. He had got up before dawn that

morning to get to work. But his car wouldn’t start and made him late.

Now he was hurrying down the road, carrying his mailbag and scowling. Suddenly

Karen came bounding around the corner. “Good morning, Mr Postman!” she said

grinning cheerfully, and dashed on.

Matt began to feel warm and happy inside. “What a delightful little girl!” he said to himself. He looked around. The sun was shining. The birds were singing gaily. Yes, it was a good morning. So what if he was running an little late. It wasn’t the end of the day, it was the beginning. Matt began whistling a chirpy tune.

Lynn opened the classroom door and slipped into the seat beside Karen. “Oh!” she sighed. “I sure hope teach isn’t in a bad mood today! I don’t think I could cope!” She put her head on the desk and groaned.

The classroom opened with a gust of enthusiasm and cheerfulness. “Good morning children!” John said happily. “I was going to give you a surprise test on math this morning...” Every one groaned. Lynn stopped breathing.

“But I decided while I was driving in this morning to let you go out into the school garden and draw the beautiful flowers that are growing...”

The rest of his words were drowned out in the noise of the children cheering. And Karen was cheering the loudest of all. There was nothing she like better than to be outside, admiring God’s beautiful creations.

By Lorna B.

Elaine was lying in bed. She had been off school all week with a tummy bug. Now she was at that part of being ill
where she was bored staying in bed, but she wasn’t well enough to go out.   She tossed and turned in her hot
                                 sticky bed, thoroughly miserable. Then a happy bright tune floated through her bedroom
                                 window. Elaine lay still and listened. A smile appeared on her lips. John was like a bear with
                                 a sore head, like an ogre with the flu. Another day of school. An other load of homework.
                                            Sometimes he wished he wasn’t a teacher. The children now-a-days were rude and
                                                 cheeky, and their parents were even worse!   He went into Elaine’s room to kiss
                                                  her goodbye.
                                                 “I love you, daddy.” Elaine said smiling as her father kissed her hot forehead. “I
                                                  hope you have a lovely day in school, and I hope all the children are really nice
                                                  today.”
John looked at his daughter. “What a beautiful thing to say!” he thought, his dark mood lifting. “Thank you,
Sweetheart!” he said, stroking her face.

When you pray, ask God to help you spread joy to those around you.

Can you think of a time when you were sad or unhappy and someone did a small thing that cheered you up.

What did Karen do in the morning that made her heart so happy and cheerful?

Read Proverbs 12v25 & 17v22. Joy in your heart not only keeps you happy, but healthy as well.

A simple thing like a smile can go a long way. When you go out today, try to smile at those you meet in the street.