While in London recently, I went to see the musical ‘Hamilton’. At the beginning of his career, Aaron Burr offers Alexander Hamilton some advice. He tells him to ‘Talk less, smile more.’ It reminded me of a written comment a year 7 student made, when asked to define a Christian, ‘Christians eat bread and whine,’ he wrote. Oh dear, sometimes I do exactly that. I’m very good at grumbling and grizzling and griping and groaning – just like the Israelites in the desert. When I should be so grateful to God for everything He gives and all of His promises for the future. I need to use my mouth for a smile not a frown, for a sigh of contentment rather than a moan of complaint. James says in his letter,’ Be quick to listen, but slow to speak …’ If, instead of jumping in instinctively with a biting comment, I stopped myself and thought for a moment and counted my blessings from God, I couldn’t help but smile. What a difference that would make to my mental health and those around me. As well as being a much better reflection of what it means to be a Christian.
God of Joy,
We know Your Love because of what You do for us. Help us not to forget or ignore or focus on trivia. Make our responses bubble up and overflow into smiles and chuckles. Sometimes words aren’t needed. Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes our words are too small to acknowledge acts so big. But we want the world to know how great You are. We want everyone to know You. Amen