You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

(Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)

It was a beautiful, Spring day.  The sun was shining.  The sky was clear.  The air was warm.  Birds were singing in the trees.  Butterflies were flying on the breeze.  The trees were blossoming.  In the yards I could see tulips and daffodils in bloom.  And in the meadows and fields thousands upon thousands of buttercups and dandelions were sparkling golden in the green grass.  All of these things had raised my spirits and put me in a wonderful mood after such a long Winter.

I was feeling good then when I drove to a local thrift store to buy a shirt for my son.  As I walked up to the door a little, old lady pulled it open for me and smiled.  I thanked her and walked inside.  A little girl with a bow in her hair was skipping down one of the aisles.  She looked up at me and smiled as well.  Then she walked over to her mother and hugged her back while she was bent down over a baby stroller.  The Mom saw me and gave me another smile. Then when I looked down to see her baby I got a beautiful, toothless grin in return.  I walked over to the shirts and passed a mirror.  In it I could see my own face wearing the warmest smile.  It made me wonder if it was my smiles that caused all the others to smile at me or if I was smiling from all the smiles given to me.  In the end I decided it didn’t matter.  Because like Love, smiles multiply and go round and round until they return back home again.

When I was younger I used to wish I could change the world.  I even prayed to God to show me how.  It took me a long time to see that you can only change the world one smile at a time.  You can only change the world moment by moment by offering your love, sharing your smile, and giving your kindness to others.  Keep smiling then just as God smiles on you.  And know that heart by heart, soul by soul, and life by life this world will be changed.

Joseph J. Mazzella