Friday, July 1, 2011

Welcome- with a Smile


Participating with the Gypsy Mama and many others in
5-Minute Friday


Where we...
1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my right side bar}
3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.
It’s a great way to exhale at the end of a beautiful week.

Today's prompt is WELCOME.

GO.

The very first thing that comes to mind when I hear "Welcome" is a warm, well- welcome, the words being said by a person having a huge genuine smile who makes eye contact, gives you their attention and everything in their being exudes warmness.

Now this could conjure a picture of Grandma when the family arrives at the door Christmas morning.  But it could also be seen by a stranger in a public situation- take a hostess at a restaurant.

When I am in a social setting I ALWAYS search out the "welcoming" people.  They are the ones with the "Yes!" faces that you know you could have a relationship with (or at the very least a nice conversation) and I naturally gravitate toward them.  There is an elderly couple at church who are so attractive with their warm, welcoming, sincere smiles.  Greeting them (them greeting me) is one of the highlights of my Sunday experience.

Do you carry an expression of "Welcome"?  All it takes is some conscious effort to be aware of others and a BIG smile.  Welcome someone today and see where it takes you and them.  You may just be the highlight to their day.

STOP.
Share this link and read others- click on the 5-minute Friday button above.
Also linking friendships with
destined, devoted, daring


6 comments:

Sarah Dawneé said...

I love this! I absolutely agree, a warm welcome with a nice smile upon your face can make a world of difference.

When I was younger, because I wasn't interested in drama I was basically shunned and outcast by a group of mini-mean girls. Looking back on that painful experience, God taught me at least two things:

1. Forgiveness is powerful. (Bitterness is powerful in a bad way.)
2. He has given me a more sensitive and compassionate heart for "new people"/others who might be more on the outs. I truly try to welcome others with that warm welcome and genuine smile. I'm not perfect, but with God's help, warm welcomes can truly make a world of difference.

I enjoyed your post!

Blessings,
Sarah

Mommy Emily said...

nicol, it's so lovely to 'meet' you... and i hope, i hope, i have a welcoming face. thank you for this challenge today. bless you sister.

Amy W Thornton said...

I think that the people in any room in any situation who have that "yes" face and welcoming smile are like little gifts from God. And, until you've been in a new place or uncomfortable situation and seen one of them, you can't really understand the magnitude of the gift. I guess that might be one of the reasons that hospitality is a spiritual gift! Thanks so much for sharing this. What a blessing to read. Smiles -

vicki said...

I agree. I also work on having a welcoming face, myself.

Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy said...

Love this, and I need the reminder and encouragement! I know my personality often comes off as cool instead of welcoming--thanks for the push to search out others, to welcome them. I don't usually think about having a "welcoming" attitude--but the adjective sure fits.

Heart n Soul said...

Hey there ... I just noticed that you linked up with "Inspire me' but the link didn't redirect properly.... so nice to meet you and thanks for linking up. Here is my blog link if you want to try again - http://heartsoulexchange.blogspot.com/ .... you will see this weeks link up. God Bless.