Are you tightly wrapped up in the holiday season this year with gifts, holiday parties, and all those things merry and bright? Are you holding hands singing Christmas carols, drinking cocoa by the warm cozy fireplace, and feeling full of joy this Christmas season? As we string holiday lights around our Christmas tree, I personally witness the “lights” that shine during the dim times of our lives. I’m reminded that not everyone may have a Christmas full of “shine” and glitter this year.
As we deal with the loss of a loved one, and another major life event, a light walks through our front door. This light came just at the right time to speak truth, passion, support, and hope into our lives. As I prepare the table to greet our guests, she walks in the room and greets us with a smile, flowers, and a heartfelt hug! This light spoke of the same struggles she faced 17 years ago, and little did she know that she was in direct competition with the lights on our Christmas tree! She was red with passion about how she handled the situation, she was pink with softness and a caring attitude about our concerns, and she was green as she planted hope with her testimony of how she survived to make it to the other side. She was our WHITE BRIGHT light shining during a time where we felt dim and gloomy with overcast.
We have so many bright lights in our lives if we open our hearts to receive the rays of sunshine. After centering prayer today, I spoke to my dear friend about these bumps in the road we are experiencing right now. He said something that made me stop and think…he said perhaps they are not bumps in the road, but the actual road instead. Hmmm… God has a plan. He sends the road, or calls us out on a limb where it feels unstable during these difficult times. If we look at the situation with a bright light instead of a dim one, we know we need to follow where he is leading us. That is the safest place to be…even if it feels like we are blinded by darkness.
1 John 1:7… But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.