Mr. Smiley Face Lives Here

“Why do you have Mr. Smiley Face hanging in the window?” laughed eight year old Jackie. It must seem strange. My wife had brought another one home; they’re all over the house—Mr. Smiley faces.

You know what his yellow-faced grin looks like. This two-foot tall version with blue legs and arms, wearing pink smiley face emblazoned shoes was pretty much over the edge in the sane home décor category. Hanging there in the living room window in a fish net, he’s a comment magnet.

I don’t particularly like all the smiley faces; they’re O.K., but I love what they symbolize.

In her early 40’s my wife suffered with illness and depression—nothing to smile about. She searched for relief from doctors, psychologists, and self help books.

A psychologist said, “You need to explore the spiritual side of life.” Her initial reaction to me: “That’s stupid; I just want my health back. I want to be happy.”

Then while searching for self-help books at the library, she “accidentally” picked up a Christian book. An inner journey was sparked. A Bible verse in the book became her beacon of hope: “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

The journey was long. And then one day she found what she was looking for; she found Jesus.

Mr. Smiley Face symbolizes the joy she discovered.

I smiled and looked at Jackie. I told her the eight-year-old’s version of Mr. Smiley Face’s residence at our home-- “Smile, Jesus loves you.”