WHAT'S BEHIND YOUR SMILE 😄 EBONI P. & JACQUELYN Love
A smile is contagious and can help change someone's day from bad to good. It is impossible to look at someone that is smiling and not smile back or at least give a fake smile. Don't act like you have never given a fake smile. Some people smile to keep from crying. You never know what's behind that frown turned upside down. At different times in my life, my smile would be so fake because I was hiding all of the pain I was going through; from men only wanting to be seen with me at night, to friends treating me like I was a charity case, to me wondering if I was a burden to my mom instead of a blessing. One day God said to me, "I want you just as you are. That’s why I love you, so smile." At that moment, I started to turn my Crooked Smile (in my J. Cole voice) into a big Kool-Aid smile because I finally began to realize that I had more to smile about than to cry about. Luke 19:40 says, "I tell you," he answered, "if they remain silent the stones will cry out." If the rocks can offer up a praise to God, then I surely had something to smile about. Smile today because you are still here and someone else is not. God told us that we would have trials and tribulations in life; don't let them take your smile. When you feel your smile turning into a frown, keep this in your mind and repeat it to yourself as a reminder of why you smile no matter how you feel: "The joy that I have, the world didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away." Smile.
LOVE EBONI P
Behind my smile Behind my smile was once pain before I reunited with Jesus and He changed my name. No more dark shadows or fear to keep me resisting, I fell into His arms and with every step I began listening. I listened to what He told me, I wrote what He said, sometimes I was too involved with my feelings and ignored His touches. I replaced my insecurities with what He said about me. I turned off the tv and spent time at His feet. I began praying to Him calling Him names like “Your Majesty” realizing He was the real king of kings. He opened up my eyes and began showing me the real world… things I had never seen even though they were in front of me. He showed me how phony people were, and He showed me those that were plotting against me, He showed me those that claimed they loved me but had hidden jealousy. He brought me a little closer and He held me a little tighter knowing that I didn’t understand why. Behind my smile I held insecurities. These insecurities brought on by people who misused and abused me. Behind my smile was the strength to succeed knowing that everything I am is because of my one true king! Sometimes we must be reminded of what God has told us. Most times, what He has revealed or said has been in plain sight. When you look at me you see my smile. You see beauty, and I have seen disfigurement. Behind my smile…It has held insecurities, fear, uncertainty, confidence, unspoken wounds and scars. My smile once held several suicide attempts. I was scared to be saved, scared to trust God. I was scared to know that I was not only called, but that I was too chosen. Behind my smile is joy, there is peace, and there is healing. Be reminded that no matter what the world thinks of you it’s okay to count It all joy (flaws and all) because behind my smile, I LIVE! Jackie