A Smile Is Good Medicine

“A cheerful heart is good medicine…” — Proverbs 17:22

I have to admit something about myself.

I long to be loved.

To be accepted.

To be seen.

And because I feel that way, I assume most people do too.

That’s why I believe the power of a smile is far greater than we realize.

Today at the gym, I did what I always try to do — I smiled at someone as I passed.

But this time, instead of a smile back, I was met with a frown… even a look of disgust.

My heart sank.

Shame rushed in.

For a moment, I wondered what I had done wrong.

As I walked toward the workout floor, the Holy Spirit gently whispered to me:

“You never know what someone is carrying.”

He reminded me that we don’t see the whole story.

We don’t know the grief, the fear, the trauma, or the weight a person may be walking through in that moment.

And then He reminded me of something even more important:

I am loved.

My smile was not wasted.

It mattered — even if it wasn’t returned.

So when I saw her again, I smiled again.

Because love doesn’t stop being love just because it isn’t immediately received.

Scripture tells us a cheerful heart is good medicine.

And science now confirms it — when we smile, our brains release chemicals that reduce stress, improve mood, and support healing. And when we smile at someone else, their brain responds too.

We were created to connect.

To mirror one another.

To feel one another.

A smile and a frown both create a pull —but one draws people toward safety,

and the other pushes them away.

So today, let your smile be a gift.

Even if it’s not returned.

Even if it’s misunderstood.

Because every smile is a small act of love —and love always leaves a mark.