16 Moments to Make You Smile Right Now

At a time when scrolling the news can feel like navigating landmines of anxiety, take a breather. Enjoy these 16 sweet, funny and beautiful moments to make you smile, featuring Compassion children around the world.

1. Yudius’ reaction to being filmed for the first time.

Are you filming me? You are filming me! Maybe I’ll hide under the desk so you can’t see me …

2. Future Officer Tayla is the “no-nonsense” type!

Little girl smirking, wearing a police uniform.

“When I grow up,” says Tayla in Brazil, “I want to be a police officer because I want to make my city a better place to live. I’m a girl, but I can do it. I’m brave, too!”

3. A beautiful meeting, 11 years in the making.

Thrilled girl meeting her sponsor

After sponsoring Violet in Kenya for 11 years, Paul and Linda met her for the first time in 2018.

“She appeared out of nowhere. I didn’t see her coming. But, she just threw herself at me,” says Paul. “I don’t think I will ever forget that moment. It was like we’d known each other since she’d been born and that we’d been apart for so long.”

Watch their special meeting!

4. When the “Chicken Dance” made it to Kenya.

Two girls in Kenya doing the chicken dance

… and was performed by these adorable toddlers!

5. Kissia’s reaction to seeing the ocean for the first time ever.

Very happy girl on a beach

The ocean is not far from Kissia’s home in Brazil, but poverty had prevented her family from making the journey. She’d always dreamed of seeing the sea — and her Compassion center made it happen!

“I hardly slept well, thinking about what it would be like to see the sea for the first time,” she says. “It’s much bigger and more beautiful than I imagined.”

6. Tambourine trouble in the Dominican Republic.

Cute little girl with a tambourine around her face

When you want to play the drums at church but get assigned the tambourine instead.

7. That one friend who can’t contain their excitement…

A line of kids in togo with one making a funny face

Everyone is looking forward to lunch at their Compassion center, but Gerard in Togo is really, really looking forward to it.

8. Double trouble in Peru.

Two Peruvian toddlers sitting on a tree stump

Twin boys Marcos and Isaac in Peru are double the blessing (and double the cuteness!) for their family.

9. This  “no paparazzi” moment in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian toddler with arms crossed making a cute face

Little Merdokios’ reaction to being asked to join in the family photo is every 2-year-old, everywhere!

10. Stop! Triplet time.

Toddler triplets on a dirt road in Uganda

Meet Patience, Grace and Samuel, possibly the sassiest triplets in Uganda! The trio have an incredible story surrounding their birth — their mother didn’t know she was expecting multiples and endured labor on the back of a motorbike! Today, the siblings are sponsored by a set of triplets in Australia. (And our amazing blog readers helped build this beautiful family a new home!)

11. Peace from Thailand.

Grils in Thailand showing the peace sign

The behind-the-scenes outtakes you don’t normally see from Compassion child photo day!

12. Praying hard in Uganda.

Three boys from Uganda fervently praying

Nicholas and his friends say grace before their meal, reminding us all to have a childlike faith.

13. A first (ever) birthday party in Indonesia.

Six boys around the a birthday cake

Aurel and Hansen’s families cannot afford to celebrate their children’s birthdays. But, this year, for the first time, the children experienced the joy of a party and a special gift at their Compassion center.

14. When Sienna met Praise in Kenya.

A young girl with her sponsored child

Since they were small, Sienna and Praise have taken photographs of themselves holding the other’s photo. In 2017, their relationship stepped off the pages of their letters and into their memories when they met each other for the first time.

15. “Receive love. Give love. Repeat.”

Seven-year-old Candy Junior preaches a life-changing message in Kenya. May his incredible eyebrow wiggles and profound wisdom inspire you today!

16. When you’ve lost count of how many days it’s been since quarantine started.

Girl from Togo in front of a chalkboard making a funny face

Sometimes you just have to laugh it off, be a bit silly and keep smiling!

Did these make you smile? If you know someone who needs a smile today, spread some joy by sharing this using the buttons below!


Written by Zoe Noakes, with Laura Phillips

16 Comments |Add a comment

  1. Richard Bono April 4, 2021

    “Having too many children is like having too many flowers.”

    Mother Teresa

  2. Danielle Joens September 19, 2020

    Thank you so much for these happy faces. Thank you for showing us the positive things we are helping provide. I love all God’s children.

  3. Amy September 19, 2020

    Such joy and faith they have, with so few material possessions. God bless these beautiful children and their families!

  4. Rev. Cynthia Jennison September 19, 2020

    YES! These totally made me smile! and laugh in some of them! May God bless all of these children, their families, their communities, and their sponsors!

  5. Christine A. Waters September 19, 2020

    Such beautiful faces of God’s children. My tears were of joy to see their smiles. May God continue to give you the ministry to help children all over the world.

  6. Lynn Mehringer September 19, 2020

    Definitely yes! Many smiles here.

  7. Assogba y.junior May 14, 2020

    May God bless this organization for what it doing in peoples life,especially this moment of confinement…

  8. Simona May 11, 2020

    Great shots, definitely brought couple of smiles on my faces. It was fun to see them!Thanks for considering sharing those pictures, it helps to see life more natural through the eyes of the children! Thank you for such a blessing!!

  9. Alejandra Tamez May 11, 2020

    <3 love this so much!!!

  10. Wes Roberts May 2, 2020

    Delight-filled! So good!! Thank you!!!

  11. Leanne McGee April 30, 2020

    Thank you thank you thank you for sharing these beautiful silly smiling faces!!!!

  12. Deborah Oddoye April 28, 2020

    This right here made my night!
    Thank you for sharing with us!!♥️

  13. Doris April 28, 2020

    That put a smile on my face 🙂
    Beautiful children flourishing in spite of hardships, hunger, poverty, coronavirus!
    Praying for them continually. God bless them all.

  14. Linda Sessoms April 28, 2020

    No. They made me laugh and cry…you know, the good kind of crying that wells up from viewing beautiful souls and realizing that we are all God’s children.

  15. Monica Flesher April 28, 2020

    Thank you for bringing me joy today!
    ?

  16. ANN WHALEN April 28, 2020

    Oh my goodness! This is the BEST email I’ve received in a long, long, time. You made my day and put a smile on my face. Thank you Compassion International for sharing! All the pictures are beautiful and the children in each picture so very precious!
    God Bless.

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