Be The Light (all christmas like)

I love Christmas lights!


Life lessons not always so much. They do not rank neck in neck with Christmas lights even if I do later appreciate them. So last week I was sick. Something was "going around" evidently, and dropped in to visit me for a while. An unwanted visitor. But actually sometimes, the day after day, morning, noon and night schedule without let up can eventually create an open door for sickness which forces me to *ahem* rest. Perhaps better recognized as collapse.
So today I am thanking God I am much, much better! Up until this past Saturday night however, there was not one speck of Christmas decoration yet adorning our home.
There were and still are boxes of books lining the hallway waiting to be put away in a recently repaired room, which is waiting to be painted before putting in shelves, waiting to be purchased for the boxed books to be put away upon. Beds need to be set back up for family coming in for Christmas ect...Stuff to do stuff to do...


Last week mid recovering, I was picking up a prescription at the pharmacy and on the way home admiring the lights in the yard of a home when I noticed sneaking along in there with the admiration was envy. Maybe I should say "snaking" in there... I was jealous they were so well done and I had none... Suddenly I heard clearly in my spirit "Lea, I want you to BE the light". Yep even heard my name. Well then. Letting my light shine like the One Who came to be the Light of the World. (jealousy puts a bushel over it just so we know and as much as we try not to, we might just tend to do some comparison of who gets what and who gives what at Christmas...OK maybe I am just speaking for myself...but I don't think so)


None of this is a BAH Humbug on Christmas..I will still decorate and enjoy how my home is during this season. I will be happy to be giving and getting gifts. I love that I will have more of my family around for several days!!! I think it is still a beautiful time to magnify the LORD and what Christmas means for us all, the gift of God to us.


Yesterday was our Sunday to minister at one of our local Nursing Homes. Both my friend and my husband prompted me to share this little experience with the ladies and gentlemen who were attending that afternoon.
As I was telling my story, I started seeing each of us in the room as part of a string of Christmas lights. No not transfigured but each person representing a light...Ever had a string of lights where some just don't light up? Or maybe just one has gone out so the whole string stops lighting or half a string? I was seeing God wants each of us to be the light that shines in darkness. One itty, bitty Christmas light bulb doesn't do much on it own, but a whole bunch of itty, bitty lights strung together does, especially when they are connected to an outlet turned on. (Kind of like the vine and the branches theology Jesus talks about.) Don't under estimate your importance in the scheme of things. Your life matters. Your light shining matters. Your living for Him matters. Your words matter. Your loving others matters. Your joining and belonging to a church matters. 
Have a very Merry Christmas and remember to be the light!