A smile is the shortest distance between two people. – Victor Borge

It’s not just a Cheese State-Wisconsin marketing tool. Have you ever wondered why we tell people to say “cheese” when taking a picture? It’s a quirky tradition that’s been around over a century, but have you ever questioned its origins? Why not say popcorn or candy bar or even steak? Why is cheese the chosen word for those photographic prompts?

The first known use of “cheese” as a photographic aid was in a 1943 issue of The Oxford English Dictionary. The entry for “cheese” included the phrase “used by photographers as an exclamation to make a person look pleasant, natural, and so on.” But why “cheese” specifically? Well, it turns out that “cheese” is the perfect word for getting someone to smile. Saying “cheese” naturally stretches your mouth into a grin, and the “ch” sound is a great way to get your teeth to show.

While “cheese” is the most common phrase used to get people to smile, other terms have been used throughout history. In the 1800s, people would say “prunes” (no, I’m not making that up). In the 1930s, people started saying “cheese and crackers,” which eventually was shortened to “cheese.” 

Other cultures use different words to get people to smile for a picture. In Spanish, they say “patata” (potato),” in Korean, “kimchi,” in France, it’s “ouistiti,” which means “little monkey.” 

Can I suggest a replacement for “cheese” for Christ-followers? Say, “Jesus” or at least think it. Because if anyone has a reason to smile, it’s us – Christ-followers. If you pay attention when you’re out and about, I believe you’ll discover that fewer and fewer people are smiling.

One saying attributed to Dolly Parton that’s also great advice is: If you see someone without a smile, give ‘em yours. We Christ-followers have something to give away, but it’s not happiness. It’s so much better. It’s JOY! And it’s not joy in ourselves, who we are, what we’ve done or even joy about what’s going on in our lives. It’s joy in our great Savior. Now that’s something to smile about! We Christians have so many blessings to smile about. We can smile because…

We can smile because we know that God loves us! 

God’s love is the most powerful truth in the universe and one of the hardest to describe. Sometimes we joke and say about marriage, “The honeymoon is over.” None of us can sustain a honeymoon level of love. We can’t foresee the irritations that come with long-term familiarity and failures, but God can. He knows all about our past and future failures, yet He still chooses to love us! God says His joy over His people is like a bridegroom over a bride. Now that’s something to smile about!

We can smile because we know we’re forgiven! 

There is more grace in God’s heart than there is sin in your past or future. When it comes to being wronged or doing wrong, we struggle with being “historical.” Not God. In Hebrews 8:12 God says, “ will remember their sins no more. Wow! 

The book, A Forgiving God in an Unforgiving World, retells the true story of a minister in the Philippines, a much-loved man of God who carried the burden of a secret sin he’d committed many years before. He’d repented but still he had no peace and no sense of God’s forgiveness. But in his church was a woman who deeply loved God and claimed to have visions in which she spoke with Christ and He with her. Her pastor, however, was rightly skeptical. To test her he said, “The next time you speak with Christ, I want you to ask him what sin your minister committed while he was in seminary.” The woman agreed. So, a few days later the minister asked, “Well, did Christ visit you in your dreams?” “Yes, He did, she replied. “And did you ask Him what sin I committed in seminary?” “Yes.” “Well, what did He say?” “Jesus said, ‘I don’t remember.’” 

We can smile because we know we’re never alone! 

Our Savior promised us, I will never abandon you (Hebrews 13:5). What a needed promise in our day of epidemic loneliness. What a needed promise in our day of abandoned children and spouses. The Christ-follower is never alone. One of my favorite quotes is: Loneliness becomes our friend when it forces us to enjoy the fellowship of God as much as we would the fellowship of others. Even as we walk through the valley of the shadow, void of all human companionship, our Good Shepherd walks with us!

We can smile because we know His grace is enough! 

Though he was a hero of the early Church, the Apostle Paul struggled too with what seemed to be unending pain. He kept praying, asking God for relief, yet none came. Instead, the Lord promised him: My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). No matter what we face, no matter what trial or pain – God’s grace is enough! No wonder it’s amazing!

We can smile because we know how it all ends! 

You and I encounter people all the time who are terrified. They’re terrified of how the world might end. They’re terrified of death. They’re terrified of being terrified. It’s why they anesthetize their emotions with pills, booze, pleasure or work. They want to live in denial and forget the end is coming, but it is.

What a contrast for the believer. As all of God’s promises were fulfilled about Christ’s first coming and all will be fulfilled about His return. For the Christ-follower, the end of the world or end of life aren’t causes for fear but the fulfillment of all of God’s promises! No matter what happens, no matter how horrible it gets, we’re all going to get Home before dark! 

A smile that comes from the joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10) is medicine for our souls and for this world. A smile helps us have right attitudes, even when life and circumstances are wrong.Have you ever tried to be upset and smile at the same time? It’s almost impossible. God is so good to us as His children, how can we not smile? 

A believer’s smile is a testimony of God’s love within us. It shares the message of a thankful heart and trusting heart to those around us. 

Too often we fret, losing our smile and forgetting our Heavenly Father is the blessed controller of all things. He simply urges us to trust Him!

So, through good times or bad, let’s let our smiles tell others of the hope we have. And if someone notices your smile, please give credit to the One who gave it to you! We can always smile because we know our Heavenly Father is smiling at us because that’s what Fathers do for their children!