Your Cleft Journey: Your Smile

You look at me. I babble some nonsense and smile goofily. I see a glimmer in your eyes. It builds for a few seconds, then it spreads wide across your face, larger than life. Your smile.

It’s been the sweetest surprise of this whole experience. I never expected to fall in love with it as fully and deeply as I have. Because of the unique way God made you, your smile fills and lights up your entire face. I cannot imagine life without it. I have only known it for a few months, but it’s a new addiction. I cannot get enough, and I will do just about anything to see it.

That sweet smile is about to change. In a few weeks, a very talented surgeon will reconstruct your face to become more “normal.” I know it’s for the best, but I am already in mourning.

I guess it’s true what the old country song says, “You’re gonna miss this. You’re gonna want this back. You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast.” I will miss seeing the smile that welcomed me this morning.

So, I will slow down. I won’t rush through these next few weeks. I will soak up all the smiles and giggles you will give me. I will take all the pictures and videos, because soon your smile will change a little.

Yes, it will be different, but you will keep on smiling. It will still be larger than life, make your eyes shimmer, and bring joy to all in its path. Yes, there will be a scar. It will be an incredibly endearing quality of that beautiful smile.

My prayer is that it would also be a symbol of remembrance for you, your Ebenezer.

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12