THE DAY I GAVE A SMILE

April 5, 2013

I was eight when I first saw him, he wore a tattered oversized suit and carried a worn-out briefcase. He had lots of papers in his hands and some flew away with the breeze as he walked 4 seasons throughout the county.

I heard he’s a salesman but from the look of things, he’s a failed one.

We crossed path one day and he smiled at me, I quickly looked away like most people’s attitude towards him but something pushed me to go back to him, I tapped him and said ‘hi’ with a smile, then as quickly as possible ran off before he could say more. That should be enough right?

I can’t remember when I stopped seeing him but at the age of 21, I had big dreams to move to the city, have a family and do my share in building the nation but all my dreams feels like it’s been dashed by so many lacks in my life.

Every Saturday, I helped my grandmother on the farm, after we uprooted weeds, carved the ridges and planted seeds; we will sit to a good sandwich… I like the milk.

“Bye grandma” I said and I was on her front porch, heading downtown on my way to my parents house. Yeah, I still lived with them at 21.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”

(Isaiah 42:16)

Photo Credit: mindthegapmotherhood.wordpress.com

As I got close to the park, a multi colored ball rolled towards me, I picked it up only to look up and see this fine little boy running towards me. He smiled at me and I handed him the ball.

A voiced called out to him, “Andrew!”

I looked up to see the person calling out to the boy. I couldn’t believe it, it was the same man who used to walk the 4 seasons in tattered clothes and worn-out briefcase!

“Hello Micheal,” he said to me.

I couldn’t believe he knew my name, no one really gave him a second gaze. In that instant I felt a sting from my conscience. I don’t know his name, I never looked at him twice except the one time we crossed path.

“I see you’ve met my son,” he continued.

“Ha… ha… how did you do it?” I interrupted him stammering.

He smiled with understanding of the question I’m asking, “I met a friend, he is good at fixing people… even society’s rejects.”

“Can I meet your friend? Can he fix me too?”

“Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations.”

(Isaiah 60:15)

That day, I met Jesus and fell in love with Him, just like the man in tattered clothes and worn-out briefcase, he fixed me too.

Now I’m 31 and I have been tagged ‘smiley’ by everyone around me because at the age of 21, I learned an important lesson that says:

“You get more when you give than you know, even if all you can give is a smile”

This story is a fiction so are the characters but you will agree that the story’s background can be found in the way we treat people around us. Thank you for past comments and likes, please share your thoughts with us on this post too.

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