Smiling

There are times when life just seems to get you down; things don't always go the way you'd hoped and so it seems that all you can do is to plod on.  The news this week has had some terrible images from war-torn parts of the world.  The financial situation and lack of proper jobs that give you a decent weekly income don't seem to be improving.  It seems to be a case of 'that's life; get on with it!'  But this week, amidst all the doom and gloom, I have been deliberately looking for situations that have made me smile and thought I would share a few of them via my blog.

My friend Margaret with some of the children she has helped.
Photo taken a couple of years ago.

I have a friend who volunteers with a charity working among the poor in Nicaragua for 8-9 months every year.  She has found a congregation that once a month they do a kind of 'Songs of Praise' service in English.  Recently they sang an old hymn but made a slight mistake in the translation by omitting the last letter of the last word.  They had written, 'Rejoice ye pure in heart, rejoice, give thanks and sin!'  Oops!



'Rubber' Grandma Jo

Another friend this week referred to herself on her blog as 'rubber grandma!'  Apparently the Swedish use this as an expression of endearment about someone whom they accept into their family.  (My friend is not Swedish but English btw)  And she used it in reference to her son's partner's daughter.  I smiled when I read it and tried to visualise a 'Rubber Grandma Jo'  Come to think of it I know a few 'rubber grandmas'.
 
On Tuesday a white-haired old lady (no, not me!) was helped onto the bus by another passenger.  As she sat down she apologised and smiled saying that it was getting a little more difficult as she's in her 90s!  She did use a walking stick and needed a bit of help but, wow!, in conversation she said that she was 98 and still lived alone and came into town unaccompanied.  I must remember her on those days when I feel old and a bit decrepit.

On the news we have had horrific pictures about attacks in Syria but on Wednesday there was a news item about a father who was overcome with emotion when he was reunited with his young son, whom he had thought had been killed in the chemical attack where they lived.  That day at least his tears turned to joy.


We have been enjoying some produce out of our garden this week and the other day I took some blackberries for my sister.  To my surprise (and delight) she shared with me some rainbow trout that she had been given by another friend.  It certainly brought a smile to my face when later I ate the steamed trout and vegetables for my dinner.  Sharing puts a smile on people's faces.  Share a smile if nothing else.

I'll end the smiles by sharing a video that I saw on Facebook just in case you missed it when I posted it on my status.  If you have already seen this (about family pets squeezing into boxes) then you can have another laugh, even if you're not a pet lover.  Click here to watch.  Enjoy and ... ... keep smiling!