As Christmas quickly approaches, the season sparkles with laughter, fun, and delight. From lights, to music, to cozy nights around the fire, people gather with loved ones. The facial expressions are what top off these holiday memories for me. I will always remember the sound of my dad’s “oooohh” when he opens a gift he did not expect. Dad’s big eyes filled with excitement tells us that we did good. And because it takes a lot to get an expression from my mom, there are only a few Christmas mornings tucked away in my mind where her response was sentimental tears to a thoughtful gift she unwrapped.

Facial expressions are not my strength either, but they bring me so much joy to see from other people. For example, how the wonder of the Christmas season lights up a child’s face. Also, on race day as spectators cheer their athlete across the finish line. Sometimes there is jumping up and down too. Or how on rivalry weekend, a stadium of fans celebrates their team’s win with excitement and shouts of victory. The energy is electric even through my television. And lastly, on the big day watching the bride walk down the aisle to her groom who is teary and full of joy to start their lives together as one. Can you see the expressions on their faces?

Excitement. Wonder. Surprise. Delight. These emotions are expressed through big eyes or a wide smile or a wrinkle of the nose. They capture how someone feels in a specific moment in time. Facial expressions help to magnify the emotions we feel inside. The facial expressions that exude cheers, laughter, fun, and delight help me to experience heaven here on earth. It’s been a new, wild idea for me in the last six months to imagine the facial expressions of God for me. I know God loves me, but I forget that He cheers me on. I forget God created me with intentionality and precision. He celebrates when I do things I was created for. Therefore, I want to picture a beaming smile on God’s face when I ask Him to help me to be bold and courageous in my conversations for the day. After all, I know God invites me to ask Him for anything from a pure heart. When I choose to love my neighbor as myself through a small act of kindness, I wish I could hear the cheers from God that celebrates His love shared with others. Because God first loved me, I want to share that love with others. Another expression I pictured recently is a wink from God when He watches me around the breakfast table laughing with friends. These are people God crossed my paths with to share life together, encourage one another, and pray together. The faces around the table ebb and flow, but God continues to provide community in each phase of life.

As excitement and wonder build this holiday season, will you make time to take in the facial expressions around you? My hope is to dream about the expressions God has for me well after the presents are unwrapped and the confetti is popped. Who knows what the new year will bring?

 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.”

Mark 14:6-8

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4