Before everyone donned their Elsa, Storm Trooper and Joe Dirt costumes on Saturday, these 3 Nelsons put on a different kind of mask. The 3 people you see in this picture have really fake smiles painted on. This picture was taken 10 minutes after a heart-breaking loss to a big rival. The visiting team was still on the field celebrating and their band was rockin. Pat and I had our arms around a soaking wet and very smelly lineman, who couldn’t wait to get off campus, but we had one tiny obligation to complete and all it required was to stand there and smile.
Life is full of situations and circumstances where we have to just grin and bear it. We fake it for a lot of reasons, but one very important reason we do, is because we care about others more than ourselves. Everyone has stuff. We have all been wide-awake in the middle of the night consumed with anxious thoughts and worries. We have aching bones and aching hearts, but we don’t talk about those at football games, in the grocery store or the hallway at church. It is certainly more palatable and socially appropriate to avoid the “Debbie Downer” syndrome, but our goal should not be fixed on social appropriateness.
As Christians, our mission and hope is to be conformed to Christ and to love like He loves. Jesus was not a “Debbie Downer”. You will not find a passage in the Bible where when asked about His day, Jesus replies, “ Well, my feet are so dirty and I haven’t been sleeping. I am constantly being followed around by hundreds of people who want something from me. The 12 who are with me the most keep missing the point and I have to explain things over and over again to them. One of my closest friends is about to tell people that he doesn’t even know me, and to top it off, people I love and have given everything for are plotting to kill me.” Jesus was entitled to everything, but He lived to love others and to put the needs of others before His own. He listened and He didn’t have to fake a smile or compassion or joy, because His focus was His mission.
We also have a mission. We were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We do that by making sure our priorities are in order. We put Him first and others second and then we focus on self. When these are our priorities and mission, fake smiles are less often required.
Not everything is rosy and sometimes the spotlight is shining on you. When things are rough and at their darkest, you are not alone. You have divine help to show you the light. God in His compassion and wisdom is present to remind you of all your reasons to rejoice. The smiles on this picture were fake, but if I had been clearer of thought and perspective, my smile could have been genuine and sincere. There are 100’s of beautiful things going on in this picture. That is my son and he’s the only one I have. He is being embraced by parents who adore him and each other. He is playing football for the first time in high school and he is exceling. He is happy and respectful and brings us such joy. We have every reason to rejoice and you do too. You are blessed and you have been given a new day to rejoice in your blessings and to bless others. It is time to smile.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 (ESV)
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:3 (ESV)
“Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV)