Smiles is the longest word in the English language because there’s a mile between the first and last letters! There’s no doubt that a smile goes a long way. A Chinese proverb says, “A man shouldn’t open a shop unless he has a smiling face!” Smiling faces attract customers! God wants us to be happy and He has shown this by designing our faces so that we only need around 4-6 facial muscles to smile but up to 20 to frown! A smile is a curve that can set things straight. Smiles cost nothing so let’s give plenty away!

In the delightful story of Pollyanna, this orphaned 11 year old was sent to the stately home of a stiff and starchy spinster aunt who treated her harshly and cared for her more out of cold duty than love. But Pollyanna’s father who was a minister had taught her to play The Glad Game. One day Pollyanna explained this game to Nancy the servant. She told her how it began when she wanted a doll but received a pair of crutches instead! Pollyanna said, “At first I couldn’t see how I could be glad about this, but then my father told me that I could be glad that I didn’t need crutches!”

Pollyanna got everyone in the town smiling as she taught them to play The Glad Game. One day she found the local pastor looking sad so she asked him if he enjoyed his work! Then she told him how her father always said, “He wouldn’t remain a minister for a minute if it wasn’t for what he called the ‘800 rejoicing texts in the Bible’! Soon the pastor began to play The Glad Game and in the midst of all his problems he shouted out, “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice!” [ Psalm 32:11 ]