Day 14: Countenance
A Merry Heart maketh a Cheerful Countenance.
Proverbs 15:13
I'm reading Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol'
which begins with the dark description of Scrooge's countenance.
"...nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me? No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked what it was o'clock, no man or women ever once in all his life inquired the way to such a place, of Scrooge... it was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance..."
What is your body language saying to others as you walk among men?
Our subconscious brains read and discern emotions of others within nanoseconds of encountering each other. What message are you emulating? Are you approachable? Guarded? Smiling? Do you make or avoid eye contact?
This morning as I walked the dogs in my favorite field I came upon a barbwire fence that was put up just yesterday forcing me to stop and turn around. Do you have fences up stopping others from getting to know you or creating barriers that stop progress?
If so try an experiment today of just simply smiling, have an attitude of Cheerfulness as you walk among others, reach out and serve others.
Then sit back and watch how it spreads to others and how it will lighten your heart also.
Then sit back and watch how it spreads to others and how it will lighten your heart also.
Be The Light!
Countenance does not simply mean a facial expression or visual appearance. The word comes from an old French term originally denoting ‘behavior,’ ‘demeanor,’ or ‘conduct.’ In earlier times the word countenance was used with these meanings in mind. Therefore, to receive Christ’s image in one’s countenance means to acquire the Savior’s likeness in behavior, to be a copy or reflection of the Master’s life.”
I hope you can take the time to enjoy this short video
No comments:
Post a Comment