Lent Day 6, Monday, Feb 23, 2026

“Smile, No Matter What!”

“Smile, No Matter What!”

Smile, No Matter What!

Yikes! The first Monday of Lent brings us to a familiar challenge: Smile, no matter what.

For many people, Monday is not the easiest day of the week. Perhaps the weekend was full. Perhaps you stayed up too late. Perhaps work is calling your name louder than you would like. Mondays can test even the most cheerful among us.

Smiling all the time is difficult. I will not say it is impossible, because I have met people who seem to carry joy wherever they go. Much of their happiness is genuine. Some of it is the quiet discipline of choosing to smile even when life feels heavy.

Is that you? Maybe. If so, thank you. You remind the rest of us that joy is not only a feeling. Sometimes it is a decision. Today, the rest of us will try to follow your example.

Smiling in challenging moments is not easy. Smiling when we are tired takes effort. Smiling when we are in pain can feel almost impossible. For those facing deep suffering, even one small smile today is a victory.

Many of us have more reasons to smile than we realize. We are simply distracted from smiling. Others struggle to smile because their burdens are far greater than ours. That awareness alone should soften our hearts.

Today’s challenge is simple. Smile... Not in denial, and not in pretense, but in gratitude.  Pay attention to the blessings in front of you. Thank God for the people who have shown you that joy can exist alongside struggle.  We have many reasons to smile, beginning with this truth: We are wonderfully made by a God who understands both our laughter and our tears.

So today, even if it is small, let your smile be an act of faith.

Smile, it’s Monday!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  (Psalm 139:14, NIV)