Wow, 40 years ago, that phrase had a whole different meaning! Lol. But we won’t go there, we’ll go here instead… please read on!
I hope your new year has started off better than you could have hoped! I don’t know about you but my resolutions went out the window on about January 4th when I ate a cookie (okay, I ate three cookies and a Lindor truffle), but hey, I made it four days and now the pressure is off!
We finally got to celebrate our family Christmas this past weekend and threw in a family baby shower for my new granddaughter coming soon along with a little celebration for my daughter’s new job! Then, we thought what the heck, let’s have our favorite three year old spend the night. It was a BIG night and it was wonderful and Pop Pop, Nannie, and Colt Colt were in bed at 8:30, lol. The next morning, we made a game out of taking decorations down (since child labor is illegal) and had Colton go get us this and that and bring it to the dining table. Before long, we’d accumulated quite the gathering of Christmas stuff, he had fun, and I promise no child was harmed during this event.
As I finally sat down after all was put away, exhausted, I looked around at all the lights gone. It can be so bittersweet when it’s all put away and I was reminded how sad I am every year to take the candles out of the windows, my favorite. I started thinking about how many of us are like that on a Sunday or after meeting with an encouraging friend or after our quiet time. We sit all glowing because we’ve been ignited, plugged into the source for a bit. And then we head on out to face the world hoping to keep that warm glow… . and often, before we get home, we come unplugged. Dark as that strand of lights that made us cuss before Christmas.
The simple truth there is only one power source that can truly light us up and keep us lit. I so wish as our feet hit the floor in the morning, we could envision ourselves plugging into our power source. “Light me up, Lord!” Some days we might shine enough to light the way for others; some days, we may have just enough to see through the tunnel of the day. But the power source is always right there and we can get lit anytime.
So my little candle buddies, let’s just try to shine in our little corner of the world today. And when it’s time, when we’re ready, together, we can light up the world.
I don’t usually do this but I feel led today…
Dear Lord,
We so often become unplugged from you and our light simply goes out. We struggle and flounder to find it, we often want to give up. It is so hard some days, so hard that we seem to just want to be in the dark alone, it feels easier. But we know that’s not what you want for us, Lord. I ask you to please, please, please come to those of us who need you and gently fill us with your spirit, fill us with your light. May it warm us from the inside out, Lord, and may we feel energized by just being close to you, like sitting next to a warm fire on a cold night. If you can use us to light someone’s way, we want to do that, Lord, but we know we can’t do that without your light within us first.
Light us up, Lord! Please, today, we ask all these things in Jesus’ name.
Tracey
Thank you for these beautiful words Tracey. They are just what I needed to get my day started.
You have been led to write and lead the way. I have read this and your prayer, as well as “He Wakes me”. My mine is turning now … where do I fall, which way do I go. After pondering, I go to God, in a small or large way, talking, praying and asking for his grace on me and my world.
KEEP WRITING …. PLEASE !
You precious friend, thank you for always being here! Love you!