Shine On!
Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 12:46
It has been a busy week for me. My time has been spent getting ready for the Christmas holidays. I am, like most of us, wanting to get my shopping out of the way and my gifts wrapped and hidden from family. Of course, later they’ll be put under the Christmas tree and I’ll get to watch the excitement on faces as they open them.
Each new holiday brings such enjoyable memories of years gone by as I’ve watched my family grow from babies to parents. But most of all, my joy is the preparation of preparing the house and especially putting up my Christmas tree as well as helping to decorate at my church. As I am getting older it is becoming harder to climb ladders and keep my balance but I want each tree to shine with all the lights perfectly aligned and the ornaments placed just in the right spot for everyone to enjoy.
Something inside of me changed this year as I was looking over all the trees we had decorated. Each tree has its own personality and beauty about it. My friends and I were exhausted but happy and excited to make everything come together for the celebration of the season. I hoped all who came on Sunday would enjoy the excitement of the season.
Once home, I was resting in my family room with no lights on but my tree, I noticed now each ornament was displaying its own beauty whether brand new or very old and worn with age.
I began to notice that as the light shined against each ornament, it looked prettier than when the tree lights were off. How even the oldest ornament or those cracked with missing pieces looked lovely in the light. It didn’t matter whether it was high in the branches or barely seen on the back of the tree. It struck me that we are just like those ornaments. Whether we are brand new or old. When The Light shines on each of us, do we sparkle?
Isn’t this what Jesus sees in each of us? He doesn’t care how old or young we are as long as we cling to Him so that His light covers us. That is what makes us uniquely attractive. As I gazed and admired the beauty of my tree, it changed my entire perspective this year.
It is not important whether we are gorgeously jeweled ornaments hanging in the center of a tree, or that we are barely hanging onto the bottom branch with missing pieces, torn from battle scars or worn from years of use. No matter what position we are placed in life, we need that radiant light to be shining not only on us, but through us so that others see the light of Jesus within us.
Light of the World with Lauren Daigle
Father, I am grateful for Your Son, Jesus. He came into this world and gave us His light of life so that we can share it with others and shut out the darkness that covers many. In our business, help us remember the true reason for the season.