Dear Reader:
Don’t we love being around people who can light up a room simply by entering it? These are people who keep a sparkle in their eyes, an amused look on their faces like they know something funny all the time, and have such a pleasant demeanor that they leave smiles behind wherever they go.
This is not to say that these same people don’t have their own ‘cross to bear’ with problems…after all life is a series of problems until we take our last breath. (and even that is a pretty big problem) But somehow they understand Francis Bacon’s famous quote:
“In order for the light to shine so brightly…the darkness must be present.”
A couple of days ago I was reading in my happy room…the weather was rather gloomy once again, overcast and gray. Suddenly, however, the sun’s rays shot through my shutter blinds and turned my yellow walls next to the orange stucco fireplace/mantle a lime green.
It was so beautiful that I grabbed my Iphone and quickly snapped the photo. (I kept thinking that lime green looks good with burnt orange too!) The light filtering through the late afternoon sun brought me such happiness by turning something ordinary into something extraordinary!
We know that God is the light of the world…but we need to remember that He also placed a divine spark within each of us. It is up to us to take that spark and become the light of change, inspiration, awareness, and opportunity. In other words…to become the creators of our own reality with God’s guidance. To live each moment of our lives with a purpose.
If our light is simply a smile that can light up others share that gift…because they then will also smile and light up another’s day….this chain sequence will have a positive effect on many people’s lives from moment to moment.. And you never know when that light will be returned back to you. Case-in-point:
I met a stranger in the night
Whose lamp had ceased to shine.
I paused and let him light
His lamp from mine.
A tempest sprang up later on
And shook the world about.
And when the wind was gone
My lamp was out!
But back to me the stranger came—
His lamp was glowing fine!
He held the precious flame
And lighted mine!
……………………………..
I love my birthday angel that Marcia gave me several years ago….it always stays on my storm door and sometimes when the sun’s rays shoot across the porch it appears to glow….she carries a sapphire… my birthstone… and is a reminder for me to keep flying with outstretched arms and hands daily to be available for others.
…Because yesterday was so overcast with no sun at all…the angel’s silhouette grew dark…but then I remembered that “in order for the light to shine its brightest the darkness must be present.” .
So until tomorrow…for 2016….Let us all be the light that others remember and pass on to others.
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
* I hope everyone remembered to eat their
Hoppin’ Johns yesterday for good luck. I had rice with a mixture of black-eyed peas and field peas. Yummy! I substituted butter beans for “greens” but hey, they are green.
Besides…I need extra luck because I forgot to get the rabbit photo on the blog yesterday morning.
If you read the post after 2:00 you didn’t notice…early readers did so I will put Ms. Rabbit on again today. We don’t want to start off the New Year with bad mojo! We want 2016 to be joyous and lucky! Say “RABBIT”!
…And the Ya’s can’t get enough of our honorary Ya grandson….Brookie’s little one….another cutie photo….Cutie Caleb! Happy New Year Caleb!
The Polar Bear Plunge came a’calling again! Great cause to raise money for the Special Olympics!
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About Becky Dingle
I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents
were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my
grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old
Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended
Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters
Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am
presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also
taught at the College of Charleston.
For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy
matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of
stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message
through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret
of success in teaching social studies is always in the story.
I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest
teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re
ripe you rot.”
* I hope everyone remembered to eat their Hoppin’ Johns yesterday for good luck. I had rice with a mixture of black-eyed peas and field peas. Yummy! I substituted butter beans for “greens” but hey, they are green.
Besides…I need extra luck because I forgot to get the rabbit photo on the blog yesterday morning.
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
We all need someone to light our light and help it shine from time to time. Your blog helps mine shine almost everyday! Not always what’s written, sometimes it’s the pictures and today it was Caleb! Nothing like the bright light that a new child to make a smile come to your face! I am going to try my very best in 2016 to shine brightly and hopefully help someone else shine! We need more light to offset the darkness this year and I am going to do my part, God willing and the creek don’t rise! Key words, GOD WILLING! Thank you for helping me shine on a daily basis!
Johnny…your light shines through every comment and observation you make…and I think God is more than willing to let you continue spreading your light to others!