Inspiration Cards - A Smile Goes A Long Way!

I went out-of-state last week with DH to check on the renovation
project on Miss Willie's House.  He was very busy and worked
hard!  He really accomplished a lot!

 I, on the other hand, had not planned to make this trip and
found myself with nothing I could start-to-finish.  I tried
reading while DH was working, but all the reading material
available had to do with cars or NASCAR.  Not my cup of
tea!  But wait... there was a book under the others that I had
given DH for Christmas many years ago.  It was Jay Dennis's
Leading with Billy Graham: The Leadership Principles
and Life of T.W. Wilson.  What a great book!  I read half of it
on our trip and I underlined passages to make inspiration cards.
Next time, I'll put some 3x5 cards in my purse. One quote in the
book by Winston Churchill stood out in my mind.

"I have no secret. You haven't learned life's lesson very 
well if you haven't noticed that you give the tone or color,
or decide the reaction you want of people in advance.  It is
unbelievably simple. If you want them to smile, smile first."

Then I realized that people were doing this to me!  I kept
a record of one day of smiles.

1.  I walked in a library that is 250 miles from my home. I
haven't been there in over a year.  The librarian came out
from behind the desk and "patted" me on the back.  She
smiled and said she was glad to see me again!  (I smiled
and told her I was glad to see her again, too, although
I don't remember ever seeing her in my life.)

2.  When I checked out at Wal-mart, I matter-of-fact
asked the clerk how she was?  She gave me a big smile
and said, "Marvelous darling!" Her expression made me
laugh and I announced I was marvelous, too! (Really I was tired
and in a bad mood, but I didn't let her know that!)

3.  DH and I went to a plumbing parts house to find a
"plumbing part thing".  While DH was showing the "thing" to the
man, I was sizing up the man.  He was an older gentleman who
was bald, covered with freckles, and a little out of shape.  As he
tried different parts to match up with DH's part, I came to the
conclusion that the man had probably never married and still
lives with his mother.  Then the man found the right part and
looked over and smiled!  Wow! He had the most beautiful,
blue, twinkling eyes!!!! Wow! Wow! Wow! Like blue diamonds!
(If anything breaks down again of plumbing nature, I'll be
sure to ride down with DH to the plumbing parts house.  I
asked DH if he saw the parts man's smile, but he said he
was just focused on finding his part.)

4.  We were picking up breakfast at the drive thru at Burger King.
After taking our money, an older lady with curls pinned on the
top of her head, smiled and wished us the most sincere best
wish for a wonderful day!  (I'll come here again for breakfast!)

5.  On our way through Atlanta, we stopped at a QT convience
store for gas and a 49 cent cola.  A lady in line in front of me
with only three items, stepped aside and told the clerk to take
me first!  I told her I didn't mind waiting in line, but she smiled
and insisted I go ahead of her. She was a total stranger but I
have never felt so honored by anyone with just a smile.

All that in one day!
The inspiration cards are making me look at life a little deeper.
(SMILE!)  Hope you are having a great day!

Lottie

Winston Churchill