Unexpected Smiles

My GPS reroutes me on the way to my hair appointment, guiding me down an old street I would never have chosen on my own. Like life itself, sometimes a GPS takes you somewhere unexpected, somewhere you did not know you needed to be.

I slow the car, letting my eyes wander over the houses that sit close together, their worn porches and whitewashed picket fences weathered by sun and storms. They wear their years without pretense. Nothing pretends to be new. Huge oaks, planted long ago, stretch their arms over the street, shading the road and giving it a peaceful, enduring grace.

Sheets and shirts on a clothesline stretched high between two weathered poles, sway in the breeze, kissed by the morning sun. For a moment I am back in time and see my mother hanging a load of laundry for our family of six. Weather never stopped her, neither did the work. Proverbs 31:27 reminds me, “She carefully watches everything in her household, …” Love often shows itself in doing what must be done, day after day, with faithful hands.

On down the street, I see a little boy throw a stick across his yard. A floppy-eared dog bounds after it, ears bouncing, tail wagging like a banner. The boy laughs, waiting, fully absorbed in the game. His joy is simple, pure, and free. “Let the little children to come unto me,” Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, and watching the little boy play, I understand why Jesus chose to use children as an example of our relationship with Him. Children carry trusting hearts. They live fully in the present.

That simple scene unlocks my own childhood. After a full day of playing outdoors, evenings never felt rushed but were wrapped in the comfort of routine and the warmth of family. Supper came first, and the television stayed off until the dishes were done. Our television, with its rabbit-ear antenna wrapped with bits of aluminum foil, sat in the corner close to the brick fireplace. When Daddy turned it on, it took a minute or two for the snow (that’s what we called it) to fade before the black and white screen came to life. Daddy watched the six-o’clock news while Mama helped all of us kids get baths, then our family of six laughed along with Leave It to Beaver or later, The Andy Griffith Show. Their opening whistles signaled the day’s burdens were done. In Proverbs 17:22, we read “A cheerful heart is good medicine,” and those evenings were balm to the soul.

The memory moves forward, and I see my brothers and me in the back of Daddy’s pickup on a hot southern day, headed for ice cream at the Spinning Wheel in downtown Bessemer. Wind tangled my long, sun-streaked hair. Dust coated our clothes. We didn’t care. Our treasure was the laughter, wind blowing against our faces, and ice cream melting and running down our chins. Scripture tells us in Matthew 6:21, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be,…” As children, we found our treasure in the simple joys of life.

Not long ago, I watched my grandson eat ice cream the same way we did in the back of that pickup truck. His face smeared, laughter spilling, complete delight. “One generation shall praise Your works to another,” the psalmist wrote (Psalm 145:4 nkjv). I saw it, God’s goodness passing from heart to heart, shaping each generation with moments of unguarded happiness.

Somewhere between the clothesline, the boy and his dog, and remembering my grandson with ice cream on his sweet face, a smile spread across my face. The weight I have carried, the noise and unrest in the world, loosens. Calm settles. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts, …” is a promise found in Philippians 4:7 (niv). And in these moments of unexpected smiles, peace comes.

The GPS nudges me back toward the main road. I am still smiling. The world has not changed. The headlines will still show anger and chaos. But grace found me on an unexpected route, reminding me that sometimes the detours themselves are the destination. And for now, that unexpected smile is enough.

 Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for the quiet blessings You place in our lives, for the laughter of children, the warmth of family, and the simple joys we sometimes take for granted. Open our eyes to see Your grace in the ordinary, and help us to notice the unexpected smiles You give, reminders of Your love and faithfulness. Guard our hearts and minds with Your peace, especially when the world feels chaotic or heavy. Teach us to cherish these small gifts and carry their joy into each day. May our hearts be full of gratitude, our hands ready to serve, and our lives a reflection of Your goodness, passed from one generation to the next. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pause and Reflect

• Where in your life have you experienced unexpected moments of joy or peace, even amidst the chaos of the world?
• How do simple, everyday acts, like caring for others or observing small blessings, reveal God’s grace in your life?
• In what ways can you cultivate awareness of these “unexpected smiles” so that gratitude and joy shape your days and relationships?

Take a moment to listen to 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord). Let the music guide your heart to remember the countless ways God has shown His goodness, even in small, quiet, and unexpected moments. Think of the times He has given you unexpected smiles: a child’s laughter, a memory that warms your heart, or a simple act of grace in the midst of ordinary days. As you listen, allow your heart to rest in gratitude and joy, and notice how God’s love quietly fills even the simplest moments.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.