The Beautiful Smile

Today, while sitting at the stoplight on my way to get my son, I saw a homeless man standing on the side of the road. He was half-heartedly begging for money. At one point, he stood there in a daze, raggedy cardboard sign dangling by his side, staring at the ground. He had all the makings of someone on drugs, his eyes hooded and half-closed.

But then he looked up and saw a dog in the car stopped next to him, and he completely transformed. He started making kissy faces at the dog, completely unhindered by how ridiculous he looked. And then the dog did something playful and silly, and the man’s face broke into a huge toothless smile. I’ve never seen such a smile. It was, for lack of a better word, beautiful. It was so honest and genuine. He was so happy in that moment, and he looked a different man entirely.

I guess you can’t truly judge a book by its cover. Hidden underneath in its pages might be a beautiful smile just waiting to come out. And never underestimate the power of a dog to bring it out.