An article “Why Don’t Chimps Smile?” stated that chimpanzees or chimps may appear human-like, but people tend to ignore big differences. For one thing, chimps don’t smile. They simply cannot smile. Animals play and seem to have fun, but only humans smile, giggle, and guffaw. Three details are needed to smile. First: Humans have much more facial muscles (varies from 50 to 62) than chimps that allow us to express all kinds of emotions without speaking a word. Chimps have fewer than 30 facial muscles. The corners of their lips do not have muscles attached that can make a smile. What if they did have such muscles? It would not make a difference. Muscles do not work without nerves to activate them. What if they had both facial muscles and nerves? That still would not produce a smile.
This leads to the second detail. Humans have a muscle mechanism as well as the information needed to drive that precision mechanism. The fact that babies can smile shows we are pre-programmed to smile. No one teaches babies how to smile. They are just born that way. Our smiling muscles are the hardware, then our brains provide the software that tells muscles when, how far, and how long to contract or relax. God made people not only with facial muscles but with software to drive them and nerves connecting brain-sent signals to the muscles that enable us to smile… or frown (Brian Thomas – Creation Q&A). Also facial muscles may vary. Different muscles are also used to smile and frown.
One source stated “It requires about 26 muscles to smile and 62 muscles to frown” (Science.howstuffworks.com). So it takes more muscles to frown and be unhappy than to smile and be glad. So, give your face a rest, and don’t frown, but smile awhile. Why smile? Because God made us in His image to smile. We can do what animals and other creatures cannot do.
Today some try to make God in the image of man, but man was made in the image of God. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen.1:26). So it should be natural to give a God-given smile, and be pleasant. It seems no one enjoys a frown, but everyone loves a nice pleasant smile.
Try it, you will like it! A smile is even noticed in your voice as you talk to others on a phone. It also seems smiles are very contagious. So as you give your smile to others, they will then give their smiles to others. This means when you smile a smile then others smile and soon there will be miles and miles of smiles, and it all started from just your one smile. Now for your test! Look into the mirror. Stare at your face. Now slowly give a big smile! If you can see your smile, you have definitely proven that you are not a chimpanzee! Selah!
