Happy Christians?

We went shopping today.

While we perused the unfamiliar aisles we ‘people watched.’

It’s like bird watching onlymore interesting :).

We saw a couple, obviously ‘modest’ families with several children while we were there.

People like us. :)

We don’t often see that so we tend to notice.

One family was a young couple with 3 children & 1 on the way.

The mom & the little girl were wearing t-shirts & jean skirts. They had longish hair. And they were smiling. She looked very happy to be with her children & they looked happy to be with her.

The other family was Mennonite in dress but they had no head coverings. It was a mom , teenage daughter, 6 or 7ish daughter & a 9 or 10ish little boy. They didn’t seem so happy.

They weren’t very smiley.

We were in line behind them & the older girl had a bag of live fish. My 3 year old very loudly started talking about the fish & none of them ever turned to smile at him.

Now I am not trying to judge them or say they were bad or mean. Just commenting that they didn’t seem very happy.

And it made me think.

For people who intentionally dress differently, like the Mennonites or even those of us who choose to dress more modestly , especially when it is an outward sign of our faith shouldn’t we try to look joyful?

Shouldn’t we, as ambassadors of Christ, try to embody the joy of Christ?

Now I know we all have bad days but it is kind of like putting a ‘fish’ on your car.

That is an outward, public symbol declaring yourself a Christian.

Should you really be making that declaration if you speed & cut people off & make obscene gestures?

I’m gonna say “NO.”

I do have a fish on my car. And I am conscious of the fact that people are going to be watching me to see what “the Christian” does.

I feel the same when I am out with my kids.

I want people to see a joyful mother. A joyful family that is glad  to be together.

I want people to see a happy family. I want people to feel joy watching us.

So I try to be happy. I try to consciously smile & catch peoples eye & say “hi.”

I want them to see us as approachable.

And most importantly I don’t want it to be an act we put on in public.

I want it to be real.

I want my children to remember joy in their childhoods. Laughter.  Fun.

Even if it just a trip to Walmart.

So smile.

Wave to the loud little boy who notices your fish. :)

Say ‘hi’ to someone who looks grouchy & give them a reason to smile.

Be a joyful Christian.

Blessings.