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| The Power of Simple Sincerity |
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Wednesday evening as I was backing out of my driveway to go to church, I stopped for a kid to pass by on his bicycle. He smiled broadly and waved as he rode by. A boy in his early teens that I had met only once, in July.
On July 11 from midnight to midnight I participated in the annual Day in the Life photo project of the local newspaper, taking photos all around the county within a 24-hour period, for publication in a special pull-out section of an upcoming Sunday edition.
I often see this boy and his brothers playing in their grandparents' yard a couple of houses down from mine, and although I am friendly with their grandparents, we have rarely had any real conversation. This particular afternoon in July, however, I spent some time in the yard with them, taking pictures as they played, and told them what day to look for themselves in the newspaper. I hadn't seen them since, until Wednesday evening.
As I followed the bike up the road and came to their grandparents' house, I saw the 4-year-old playing in the yard, and he recognized me. Despite having only seen me once, he lit into a grin so wide I could almost hear it, and his little arm was waving with all he had in him. I waved and smiled back and continued on to church, with a new smile in my heart that made my day.
In the midst of a mask-filled world, here was a simple sincere smile, a contagious joy, a gift from him to me that I'm still carrying around days later.
1:12a For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world . . .
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| That was lovely Kathy .... it gave me a warm smile in my heart too!. |
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| I think that it was G K Chesterton who said that some of the greatest lessons he learned in life, he learned by watching children. I taught elementary school for four years and I couldn't agree with him more. Great blog Kathy:) |
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| Great post Kathy. Warmed my heart, too. Thanks! |
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Melanie |
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September 15, 2007 at 12:29pm |
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| You can almost hear the childrens laughter in the photo. heart warming story. |
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| Great blog, Kathy. Thanks for sharing. |
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| Heart warming! Authentic joy is truly contageous -- and especially a child's innocent joy!!! |
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| Yes, take note! These are the best moments, I agree!! |
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| These are the best moments on earth. Thanks for sharing yours with us! |
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Enjoyed the story. Hope you are saving all you writing. I would read the book. |
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| Jesus smiled at me today through the eyes of a little boy those beautiful eyes, those gleaming eyes, stretched wide touched my soul with joy Jesus smiled at me today through the eyes of a little boy A gentle smile, a simple smile from heaven it was deployed just for me, to see Jesus in the smile of a little boy by Pastor Aminata Inspired by Kathy's "The Power of Simple Sincerity" |
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Valya |
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September 15, 2007 at 5:07pm |
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| Amen! These are the priceless treasures of life. It would be awful to miss them... |
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ilene |
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September 15, 2007 at 5:17pm |
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| Thanks! the past two days i was just noticing sincerity around me. whether the sincerity is good or bad, i think it's one of the greatest gifts one person can give to another. |
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Kathy |
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September 15, 2007 at 5:49pm |
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Dr. Wilson, Voice, Faithrock, Soozanne, and Ilene, thank you!! Margaret and Melanie, thank you, and welcome to MyChurch! Let's Pray, nice to meet you! Thanks!
Pastor Tim and Mike, Amen! There's is no substitute for a child's innocence, from which so many lessons can be learned!
Pastor Arminata, wow! You should repost that in your own blog!
Valya, you are one of those "priceless treasures!"
Hazel, so are you, and should there ever be a book, your copy is free! :) |
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Kathy |
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September 15, 2007 at 10:26pm |
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Voice, what I said to Hazel . . . :) |
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Brenda |
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September 16, 2007 at 8:55am |
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| Muy bonito,Gracias.Bendiciones!!! |
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| Great post Kathy might I recomend daddysarms.com |
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Denise |
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September 16, 2007 at 3:28pm |
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Beautiful Kathy, and I love the poem by Pastor Aminata. Smiles are wonderful we should spread them around more. I know that made your day.!!! |
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Kathy |
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September 16, 2007 at 6:30pm |
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| Amen, Jack! Thanks! ¡Gracias, Brenda! ¿Cómo estás? Beautiful website, Dave! Thank you, Denise, and amen on spreading more smiles! They don't cost much! |
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Glenn |
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September 16, 2007 at 10:26pm |
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Thanks for the smile Kathy.
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| With today's busyness, we often fail to appreciate the gift of a smile. I'm glad you took the opportunity!! |
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Kathy |
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September 17, 2007 at 7:50am |
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| Thanks, Glenn! Lang, me too! Thanks! |
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John |
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September 17, 2007 at 11:58am |
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The smile of a child can melt the heart of even a...Grinch!
Beautiful story.
John |
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Kathy |
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September 17, 2007 at 12:43pm |
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Hey, John! Who are you calling a  ?! :) Thanks for the read!
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JessIAm |
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September 17, 2007 at 1:25pm |
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Thanks Kathy, I was touched by this. Who said that the only thing that will matter a hundred years from now is how I affected a child? I don't think I'm quoting it correctly, but I think that is the gist of it. Great poem Pastor Aminata! Thanks. |
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Kathy |
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September 17, 2007 at 10:09pm |
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Thanks, Jess. Our interaction with children is so important, shaping the rest of their lives! And as this blog shows, it's good for us too! Thanks, Apostle Patrick! Blessings! |
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Carlene |
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September 18, 2007 at 2:15pm |
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| Hey Kathy! Awesome.. it is the simple things help us shine our lights for Christ.. What an awesome analogy and story..Blessings to you. |
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Wonderful post! Blessings! |
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Kathy |
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September 18, 2007 at 10:56pm |
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| Thanks for reading, Carlene and Prue! So nice to hear from you! |
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Brent |
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September 19, 2007 at 8:33am |
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Kathy, great thoughts. Jesus wanted the children to be around Him even when the adults did not. It is a good reminder to connect with those children.
But since you are talking about the power of simple sincerity that can work with adults as well as children. I have seen in my life that sincerity or respect with another can go a long way to making a connection with them. As we approach others this way we can have the right to be heard of the hope that is in us. If we don't we probably miss opportunities to do so since if we are not respectful or sincere they already don't want to know anything more from us.
Great thougths Kathy! |
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| Yes, this is wonderful! :) |
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Kathy |
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September 20, 2007 at 5:28pm |
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Definitely, Brent! Except we come as a child, we will not see the kingdom of heaven. I'm not sure all that that means, but I think this story may hold a small piece of the answer. I appreciate your comments!
Hi Lara! Nice to meet you! Thanks for reading and commenting!
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In this rush, rush world of ours, we tend to forget the simplicity of life.
The joy of a childs smile, the touch of a friend,the blue of the sky, the awesomeness of stars.
GOD gave us these simple joys to warm our soul and to remind us of his love. He created this earth to be simple, refreshing, giving for his children and someday we will have it back again.
Thank you for reminding me of the everyday simplicity that is still here if we will only look and see it. |
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Lisa |
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September 22, 2007 at 7:28pm |
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| I love this picture!!! :0) |
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Kathy |
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September 23, 2007 at 3:50pm |
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| Amen, mstovall! Thanks, Susan! Thanks, Lisa! I'm happy to see your face here! |
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Your postmade me think of my kids faces when I loaded them in the van this morning smiling at me. Blessings to you and your awesome writing as led by the Lord. |
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Sondra |
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September 29, 2007 at 1:12pm |
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| Dear Kathy: Some adults and children will leave a impression on us, that will bring a smile or stir up joy. This is one of them. Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Sondra |
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Eurika |
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September 30, 2007 at 7:55am |
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| This is beautiful, thanks for sharing. I had a similar feeling yesterday. I was walking through a very busy shopping area on a very busy Saturday afternoon. I saw the cutest Jack Russel dog pulling on her leash and smiled, I looked up, into the eyes of her young teenage, male owner and the smile in his eyes and around his mouth made me feel so special in that busy throng of people. Just the feeling of connecting with another soul in our busy world, was so good.. |
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Kathy thank's for that smile that you gave us threw this young experience. Sometimes we forget about the simplicty of life, those small things. Thanks! To God be the glory & God bless you
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Kathy |
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October 01, 2007 at 7:54pm |
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| Honoray, I'm glad you could share my smile! Yes, Sondra, some are strangers like in Eurika's story, and then there are some who seem to have that gift all the time! Thank you, Summerlyn and Eurika! God bless! |
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Jordan |
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October 21, 2007 at 1:41am |
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| the way you look at life is so cool. star! |
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Kathy |
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October 24, 2007 at 6:12pm |
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| Thanks, Jordan! :) God is good! |
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