One Smile ©Ellie Braun-Haley My sincere thanks to Ellie for allowing me to use her story on my site! There is so such potential for people to help one another. It takes such a small amount of time. Something as small as a smile can bring about the most magnificent results. Every single time we give away a smile and uplift another soul, there is a celebration of all God’s angels in that area. You know how it goes? … THE POWER OF ONE SMILE MARILYN needs stamps. She smiles at Elizabeth, the post office clerk, and MARILYN also says something uplifting to Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this postal worker, is wonderfully uplifted and she stays that way for 25 minutes. In those twenty-five minutes she deals with ten customers. She smiles, passing along the smile she received from MARILYN. Elizabeth, the postal clerk, is gentle in all she says and compliments those she deals with. Now ten people walk out the door and spread what they caught from her and now they too are about to pass on those MARILYN smiles. Here is what happened to all ten who received that smile: No. 1 This is Erin Smarton. Erin goes home and instead of her usual complaining and ranting she passes the smile on to all three family members. Everyone has a calm night. Her children are able to study. The youngest has the best sleep he has had in months and for the first time he does not wet the bed! No. 2 Is Amelia and she works with seniors. She got the smile from Elizabeth (that MARILYN smile) and passed it on to 33 seniors. One of those seniors was contemplating suicide that day, but the MARILYN smile was so infectious the suicide did not take place. No. 3 is Ernie. Ernie is confined to a wheelchair and seems to ride his chair under a dark cloud, but that day the MARILYN smile infected him through the gentleness of Elizabeth, the postal worker. It worked its magic and in turn, Ernie uplifted 17 other people. He even smiled at the waitress in the coffee shop. It was a good thing too because she was so depressed she was going to write a letter she would have regretted forever, (it would have severed her relationship with her only daughter) but she didn't do it because Ernie passed on the smile, which came from Elizabeth and before that it came from MARILYN. No. 4 is Beth Anne. Beth Anne lives with her deaf sister and the two had an argument that day, but when Beth Anne got infected with the MARILYN smile she went out and bought flowers to be delivered to her sister. Her sister Helen had prayed to God that day and said "what good am I? There is no one who will ever care if I live or die. Dear Heavenly Father, will you send me a flower to show me so that I might know at least you love me, just one flower." She cried when a bouquet arrived for her and she knew HE LOVED HER IN BIG BUNCHES. NO. 5 IS MARK Muldane. He teaches school as a substitute teacher. He was in the post office early that day when he got infected with the MARILYN smile. Then he was called unexpectedly to fill in at the Middle school after lunch. He shared that MARILYN smile with 27 students and one of them was Timothy Gardiner, the school bully. Something about the respect and gentleness and the huge genuine smile that Mr. Muldane gave to Timothy, touched Timothy in a way nothing else had. Timothy found himself feeling different, even confused so much so he rushed to the bathroom to be alone and he cried . Those were some great cleansing tears. When he came out of the bathroom he didn't push Harold in the usual way, instead he passed on the MARILYN smile and asked Harold if he felt like coming over to see his new fishing rod. No. 6 is Stuart a banker on Primrose Avenue. Stuart received that smile from Elizabeth the postal clerk (which she received from MARILYN) and, passed it on to ten employees. Then in the late day, suddenly showed a leniency for the Mackerson family and didn't foreclose. No. 7 is Anne Clarkson a temp. She had been unemployed for three weeks and was in a depression. The MARILYN smile lifted her. She was so uplifted she treated herself to a dessert at the Old Sweete shop, something she could not afford. She carried the MARILYN smile in with her and passed it out generously. Anne who was a typist is now working at The Old Sweete shop. The owner said he wanted someone to pass out not just sweets but a warm smile and when he saw Anne Clarkson smile (it was really the MARILYN smile) he knew Anne would be ideal to work for him! No. 8 is Meagan Williamson a clothing designer. Meagan received that MARILYN smile and even though she didn't notice anyone else to pass it along to she took it to her office and felt so uplifted and inspired she designed the beginning of a new clothing line for pregnant women. No. 9 is Matthew. He was in at the post office to check for his mail and get stamps. He really needed that MARILYN smile because he received a "dear John" letter that day. The smile kept him from falling apart and as he stepped out into the sunshine he thought, "people are smiling everywhere and the world hasn't stopped. " He bravely tried to pass the MARILYN smile along to others on the street and each time he did, it came right back at him and each time he felt a little better. No. 10 is Cheryl. She is pregnant for the third time, but has never held a baby. Her first two died before they were born and Cheryl spends a lot of time worrying. At the post office that day Elizabeth the postal worker was still uplifted from receiving the MARILYN smile and she was especially gentle and kind to Cheryl. Cheryl felt so touched and she felt something else too. She knew she needed to smile for her baby so it would feel welcome and safe. Cheryl began to spread the MARILYN smile. When she did the baby gave her a little kick! Never underestimate the power of your smile. If you were ever given the opportunity to follow it as it continues on you might see it reaching out for more than a thousand miles and you might see its lasting effect for a lifetime! Do God’s angels rejoice when they see you smiling and sharing your smile and your gentle nature? You bet! Ellie Braun-Haley I am thinking of you sweet friend with a smile I am thinking : You are a treasure. May God bless you! Java script provided by Kurt's DHTML. Marilyn's Hideaway ~ Cancer Site ~ Children ~ Computers Critters ~ Domestic Violence ~ Good Old Days ~ Holidays Humor ~ Inspirationals ~ Katrina ~ Miscellaneous Patriotic ~ Poetry ~ Women ~ Norma Marek's Poetry ©Luvdalot Graphics & Design, 2003-2005 Made with love December 29, 2005.