By Pastor Mark Woodward
Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith
Churches (and Lenora)
A few days ago, I ran across a picture of Snoopy sitting in the grass with a big smile on his face and the caption, “Be the reason someone smiles today.” The expression on Snoopy’s face was one of sheer joy and happiness and it made me feel really good! I wish I could reprint the picture here in the Fillmore County Journal, but imagine copyright laws won’t allow it.
Please imagine Snoopy with a great big smile and the words “BE THE REASON SOMEONE SMILES TODAY.”
Dr. Robert L. Short has written several excellent books describing the theology and outlook of Snoopy and Charles Schulz. There is a feeling of optimism, hope, and encouragement that flows from some of the cartoons of Charles Schulz and Snoopy seems to capture those feelings really well.
Recently while driving down a street in Spring Valley, I saw a boy about 9 or 10 years old sitting in the front yard of his house with his dog. It was a gentle moment – a boy and his dog sitting in the grass on a warm, summer afternoon and it reminded me of me and my dog when I was growing up. I was reminded, too, of Snoopy and all the happiness and joy he brings into the life of Charlie Brown and his pals.
In the cartoon Snoopy says, “be the reason someone smiles today.” I think it is important to be people who bring smiles into the lives of others, to be the kind of people who become encouragers and “builder uppers.” In one of Dr. Short’s books, he asserts that Christianity is a happy religion bringing joy into people’s lives through the Good News of Jesus.
So … in a world often full of cynicism, division, and conflict, let’s not focus on the negative, but rather focus on that which is good! Let’s be committed to bring about positive change for that which is good! Let’s be people who bring smiles, happiness and joy into the lives of others!
I believe this would make Jesus very, very happy! So … “BE THE REASON SOMEONE SMILES TODAY.” That’s what Snoopy would say, and Jesus, too!
God’s blessings always!
Your friend,
Pastor Mark Woodward
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