Is the season just about twinkle lights?
I happen to enjoy twinkle lights so much that I always have some in my house somewhere. It’s also my favorite time of year to drive around at night. So many houses are all lit up, there are decorations, trees, reindeer, and even Santa decorations hanging off the roof! Hannukah is also happening right now, a festival of light. Is it about the all the lights we can see or the light inside that we can’t?
Do you wonder like me about the people that live in those brightly lit houses? Are they kind and generous or are they decorating because everyone does it? When the grinch stole all the Christmas decorations, the Whos down in Whoville all came out and sang anyway. The story reminds us that it’s not about the decorations, its about the Christmas feeling in our hearts- the love and kindness, our “light” shining out into the world.
Much in the way that we see those twinkle lights on houses, we can usually see the light in others, even when they cannot. During the week of Thanksgiving this year, I was reminded over and over again by different people (without prompting) of how they see me, what light I am shining out into the world. It’s pretty hard to see the goodness and light in ourselves when we are overwhelmed, tired, and perhaps a little cranky. We need to remember our light more than ever in those moments.
At different times in my life, I allowed people to dim my light, or almost put it out, because that’s what I needed to do to keep the peace, keep the job, or the relationship going. Moral of the story? Stop that. FYI- if it’s your job that is squashing your light, it’s time to go, something amazing is coming for you.
Back to my lights. I like to see them glow, I like the stars for the same reason, they light up the sky. What I need to remember is that it’s ok and even welcome to let my quirky light shine. Whatever your gift is, whatever you have to give, let it shine! Show it to the world because well, no one else can give that particular gift. It’s all you friend! Remember, when all the lights are shining at once, it’s beautiful. 🙂
Well said