Your Smile is Your Weapon

Ever crossed paths with someone who has a smile pasted on their face 24/7 and thought, "What's the real deal behind their smile?" "There's no way they can be that happy." Psalm 34:5 says, "Those who look to Him are radiant with joy."

I used to do swim aerobics several times a week and strangers would walk up to me and say, "Your smile inspires me." A sweet elderly lady told me, "Honey, when I see you jumping up and down in this water, your smile inspires me to keep pushing."

What most did not know was behind my effervescent smile was a woman who didn't know her own worth. I was lost in a haze for years, living life on autopilot. I was dancing to someone else's beat, unable to make my own decisions. Finding my voice was a serious struggle. Understanding my value took me ages and I had many challenges in discovering who I truly was.

I grew up in a time where many children were taught to stay quiet. “Children are to be seen and not heard” wasn’t just a saying in our homes, it became the atmosphere many of us learned to survive in.

I learned early to swallow my feelings, silence my needs, and keep parts of myself tucked away. If I tried to express hurt, confusion, or even a simple need, it was often dismissed. Sometimes I was accused of starting problems. Other times, I was made to feel like I was the problem.

After a while, you stop reaching for understanding when your voice is constantly met with shame. You begin to believe your thoughts do not matter. Your feelings do not matter. You do not matter.

So I became quiet in places where I should have felt safe. I learned to carry things alone. I learned how to appear okay while feeling deeply unseen.

It took years for me to understand that this was not healthy communication but emotional isolation. A child cannot thrive where their inner world is constantly silenced. We all need room to speak, to feel, to ask questions, to be comforted, and to know our voice has value.

What gives me hope now is learning that healing can begin the moment we stop treating our feelings like burdens and start honoring them with honesty and compassion. Little by little, I’ve learned that having a voice is not the same as being disrespectful. Expressing pain is not creating problems. And needing love, reassurance, understanding, or emotional safety does not make someone “too much.”

My mom used to say, "What happens at 105 stays at 105." But trust me, it doesn't. It follows you from childhood throughout your adulthood whether you dealt with your trauma or not.

My parents weren't perfect, but they got a lot of things right. God has given me an agape love for them, understanding they had their battles to fight as well. TD Jakes once said, "How can you expect a gallon-size love from a parent that only received a pint-size love themselves?"

To the world, I was the joy-spreader, throwing happiness around like confetti. But beneath it all, a different reality lurked. Psalms 147:3 echoes: God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He's putting the bad behind us.

When you see me smile, just know that I have not arrived nor do I want to, I need Jesus every single day

When you see me smile, it’s intentional and I believe that no matter what you may be going through, you will receive the baton of hope to smile again

When you see me smile, just know that God does not play the favoritism game, if He can heal, transform and change me, He can do the exact same for you too.

The enemy is so stupid. He thought he could keep me silent b

ut God turned it around and used every ounce of my struggles and my pain for good because here I am using my voice that the enemy tried to snuff out.

Smiling is a powerful weapon that can brighten up someone’s day in an instant. A smile shows strength. A smile says, I see you and care about you and you are valuable in God’s sight and mine.

You never know all that someone endured behind their smile. You want to know how you can uplift and bless someone’s life today? Toss them a smile. You both are going to benefit from it.