During his days as president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson and a group of his companions were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river and discovered the bridge was washed away.

Each rider was forced to cross the river on horseback, which was a challenge. A traveler who was walking was at the river’s edge watching each one cross.

After several had gone across, the stranger asked President Jefferson for a ride across. The president agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on, and the two made it safely across.

One of the group members asked the stranger, “Tell me, why did you ask the president for this favor?” The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the president who helped him.

He said, “The reason why I asked him was that, on some of your faces was written the answer ‘no,’ and on his face was the answer ‘yes.’ He had a ‘yes’ face, so I knew he would take me across.”

What does it mean to have a “yes” face? I think above all it is a welcoming face, a face that tells others we are open to helping people. It isn’t something we do now and then, but it is who we are.

Some people have a “yes” face one day and a “no” face the next.

We all have those days when we are stressed and feel we can’t take on anymore. However, remember that God always has a “yes” face to help us during our most difficult times. We should try our best to have a “yes” face to help others with theirs.

God bless.