Beautiful Smile

As I opened my eyes to the new dream, I gazed upon grass as green as most precious emeralds and a bright denim blue sky, with birds flying and singing in perfect key; the lullaby of day-dreaming. I could smell sweet odours from impossible flowers that decorated the vast beauty in which I stood, with the only pause in such natural perfection being a stone path. With curiosity, I followed the path. Each step I took made the sound of piano keys and in turn each step sounded off a most wonderful score. In the musical concerto of my journey I arrived at the path's end and to my astonishment there sat an angel, drinking tea in the middle of a crystal-clear pond. I raised an eyebrow in bewilderment as the angel beckoned me. I don't know why, but I did not feel the usual logic and common sense preventing me from placing my foot confidently onto the pond's surface; it rested as if I had still been on the path. In astonishment I walked upon the pond, smiling as the fish swam below. I stood at the table, greeted by the angel.

"Please, sit."

I took my place; it would have been most rude to refuse such a warm invitation from such a graceful being. Everything about his visage seemed touched with perfection, with not a feather out of place. He poured from a most peculiar teapot, decorated with two doves wrapping their wings around a heart. He handed me a cup of tea and suddenly I was overcome with such a marvelous fragrance of strawberry; it left my senses in such sweet intoxication that I was blinded from all other sensations for a brief yet eternal moment. I raised the cup to my lips and as the sweet elixir was sipped, I felt a wave crash through my mind; a tidal wave carrying away the debris of a broken past in my soul. My chest was rising up and down as I fought to catch me breath, the awesome tingling of purity and delight brushing my skin like a soft silk hand. I gently placed the cup onto the table and placed my trembling hands to my mouth as I muttered a silent apology. The angel took hold of my other hand; such soft and warm hands. Not a flaw, not a spec of imperfection. He held my hand like it was the most precious diamond in all of creation.

"My sweet child; you must never say sorry for being happy. You must smile. Do you love your smile?"

I had to stop and wonder upon that. I struggled to compose myself as I closed my eyes and shook my head. He gave an amused sigh.

"Oh you poor thing. Do you love my smile?"

I nodded my head shyly. The angel lifted the cup to my lips and sipped from the strawberry potion again, feeling that same ecstasy rush through my heart like loving lightning.

"Now look at me."

In my delirium, I opened my eyes and gave pause. There I sat looking back at me. His smile...was my smile.

And it was beautiful.
I love my smile.
No one should ever have to say sorry for loving their smile.

We are all angels and we all have such beautiful smiles, yet our minds are so filled with pain and grief and sorrow that sometimes we forget just how beautiful we are.

So if you ever feel you are such an unpretty thing, so small and forgettable, I want you to do one thing, just one thing. As you fall asleep tonight, I want you to imagine a garden; a garden with emerald green grass and skies as blue as the vast oceans. Imagine that path of song and dreams. Imagine that angel waiting for thee. Take a moment to have just one cup of tea.