Back in 2004, Chris and I were living in a tiny three bedroom mobile home on this property. We picked out house plans and within 9 weeks, he finished building our house. This front door has been an entry way for friends and family for the last 19 and a half years! I picked it out in one of those stores that sell discounted building material. Mama and I sealed it with poly-urethane since I chose not to stain it. Yesterday, I discovered just how much build up had darkened the wood. It happened so gradually that I barely noticed! I’d completely forgotten the color the door was supposed to be and I got used to the darker color. Once I started cleaning it, I couldn’t stop until the door was beautiful again. Now it makes me smile when I see it!

Beware of soap box bubbles: Isn’t it sad how often we let life slowly change us and take away our shine just like the dirt on this front door? And we don’t even notice we are allowing the darkness of the world to slowly dim our light until it’s almost gone? Don’t get me wrong, I know first hand how hard life can be. Cancer, finances, family problems, sickness, death, depression, betrayal; all these things and many others can have a big effect on the light within us. Your eyes are the windows to your soul and your smile is the door that welcomes others into your light. Don’t let the temporary cares of this world discolor and darken that light. If you have, if it’s not easy to get a smile on your face, please let me encourage you to get out your spiritual pressure washer and knock off the cobwebs and dirt on your spirit. Shine today.

“Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Life is hard on everybody. Smile anyway. The more you do, the better you’ll feel; and you’ll be giving strength to others along the way. Did you know that you don’t even have to like people to smile at them? It’s true! It might even make some of them wonder what you’re up to! Your face is your whole front door. Time to shine it up and roll out the welcome mat with a big ole smile!

I’ll be finishing up the front porch today. Mama has a doctors appointment so I’m bringing her here straight from the bus so we can hang out before her appointment. She’s been telling me to come get her so she can help me get some things done around here. I’m not sure how much she can do but I’m gonna let her try lol. She and I always laugh and have a good time. You wanna know something really cool about my mama? I have never heard her speak poorly of anyone. I hope one day I can master that virtue. I truly admire the way my mother has carried herself through life, even now she inspires me.

Alright, soap box over. Shine up, smile, and go have a great day! Life is hard on everybody in one way or another. That doesn’t mean we get to turn off our “light”. As MeMe likes to say, Shine for Jesus! Even on the mean people. Yep, they’re everywhere. Don’t let them dim your light. You can always just smile and say, “Bless your heart.” And just keep right on with your day. 💃🏻

Y’all be sweet,

Bena ❤️🐝