Where below you read "the deceased" Pastor Manuel
inserted the name of the individual.
When Solomon, David's son, assumed the throne of Israel, he knew that with great authority comes great responsibility, and that if he were going to rule well, he would have to rule wisely. To that end, he asked the Lord for "a discerning heart" (1 Kgs 3:9). It was a prayer God answered in abundance. So great was Solomon's wisdom that he authored "three thousand proverbs" (1 Kgs 4:32), many of which appear in the biblical book by that name. A proverb is a short, pithy saying that captures a practical and often obvious truth, expressing it in a memorable way.
Among the many observations Solomon made are those that describe the effect a person's attitude can have on him. For example, on the one hand...
On the other hand...An anxious heart weighs a man down (Prov. 12:25a).
A happy heart makes the face cheerful (Prov. 15:13a).
In other words, a person's attitude, whether negative or positive, can affect him in other ways, including his appearance.
Another observation Solomon made described the effect one person's attitude can have on other people. Most notably...
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart (Prov. 15:30a)....
Here Solomon is stating that one person's appearance can affect how other people feel.
When I met the deceased, she and her husband were spending winters in Florida, so my contact with them was limited and sporadic. After her heart attack, they decided to remain in PA, and I was able to see them more regularly. Whenever I visited, her husband did most of the talking. The deceased was quiet and reserved. It generally took some effort to engage her in conversation. Otherwise, she seemed content to listen. After her husband's passing, she spoke a bit more but mostly to answer my incessant questions.
Despite her taciturn nature, though, she always seemed genuinely happy to see me and greeted me with a smile. In fact, that is what I looked forward to seeing when I came. Even when she was not feeling her best, she always managed a smile, and I always left with my spirit lifted a bit. It illustrated the truth of Solomon's proverb.
Prov. 15:30a A cheerful look brings joy to the heart....
For the deceased, it was a simple act, but it demonstrated how a positive appearance can have a positive effect on others—a good lesson for anyone, including a minister.
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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs