Light of the World

  “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light.” Ephesians 5:8

  The view out the kitchen window this morning is of new fallen snow that twinkles like a million stars have fallen to the earth. The pristine blanket is striped with lavender blue gray shadows, mimicking the barren trees standing between the snow and the sun. There are a few blindingly white flecks of lightness in the shadows. I had never noticed this before on similar days. They must be reflecting the sunlight from a fellow snowflake that rests in the brightness of the day.

 

  Light in the shadows: gratitude. I am thankful the dark memories are slowly losing their grip. What once would have taken months to work through, to process, now happens in a matter of days. Tough days, but days nonetheless. It’s a testimony to the healing power of grace. Although, sometimes, in the midst of these days, it doesn’t feel like it will ever resolve. And even though I said a couple of days ago I was out the other side, the struggles have continued.

  Light: patience wrapped in hope.

  Light: filling my home with worship music. Listening, playing, singing. Struggling days are the days I compose the best note poems on the piano.  Somber, haunting tunes usually finish with joyous, laughing music. With it, my soul begins to rise above its sorrow. It's a good place to lay out my anger before the Lord. No one gets hurt that way.

  Light: lots and lots of conversations with the Lord. They may not be fully verbalized but I find myself reaching for His comforting presence, His insight and His wisdom. The music helps when I can’t find the words. So does the art.

  Light: my teddy bear is a key component to riding out a storm. He reminds me I am a child of God. I wrap my arms around him then curl up at the feet of Jesus. His presence is my comfort.

  Light: friends to come alongside.  I was able to share with my home church how difficult this series on husbands and wives has been. In the sharing, the load was lightened. And they spoke life words into my soul, how I’ve grown and changed. I was able to thank the men in the group for showing me there are good and Godly men in this world.

  Light: speaking life words over others. Serving them. Infusing them with hope as they wrestle with their own shadows.

  Light: knowing that God is in all of this and much more.

  All means everything.