After the Sparkly Lights

We welcomed 2016 with happy, noisy teenagers upstairs and loud fireworks outside our window while under the covers of our bed, still not asleep.  For some reason while curled up in my PJ's, this moment seemed significant.  I was tempted to jump out of bed and go watch the neighbor's fireworks or to join the teenage party upstairs at the outset of a new year.  I longed for a sparkly party hat or obnoxious noise maker as I spent a few minutes reflecting on the passing of another year with unknown experiences and opportunities ahead.   Of course, Kyle would have been annoyed by either celebratory option, so I closed my eyes and welcomed 2016 as quietly as any other year.  Maybe I'm more aware of the significance of the passing of one year as we will watch our daughters leave home over the next 4 and half years, with the oldest going on to big things in 2016.

During the holiday season, festive sparkly lights have been a constant theme. In early December, our anniversary included the brilliant display of lights at the Gaylord Texas.  At the end of the month, Christmas Eve was particularly festive as we enjoyed the bright and colorful lights of Main Street Grapevine and Sundance Square in Fort Worth.  Of course, throughout the season, every street and shopping mall sparkled with a lovely scene.  Then, upon the arrival of New Year's day, we stayed in our PJ's through out the day and we removed all things festive and sparkly from our home. With black eyed peas, cornbread and cheesecake in our tummies, we put Christmas away.   The house seemed so bare, so plain and sort of sad without bells, garland, ornaments and twinkling lights in every room.  While I know all of these bright and festive surroundings are trivial and insignificant, this year the season seemed sweeter and the lights seemed brighter.  In recent years, after losing my Dad, the shine of the holidays grew dim.  Christmas reminded me of the light and joy he brought to our lives.  I'm thankful that in the process of grief there is a return of childlike joy in the midst of the holidays.

Here we are at the beginning of 2016.  As we return to the normal routine of life without all the bells and lights, I am reminded of a favorite line from a most recent movie:  "the ordinary meets the extraordinary every day".   The lights will be removed from neighborhood homes and schedules will resume without multiple gift exchanges or continuous feasting, but the beauty of ordinary life shines brightly as we hop out of bed each morning and give ourselves to what God has called us to do.  The light of Christ shines brightly as young mothers sacrifice and serve their little ones and as teenage students honor the Lord in the midst of surroundings that deny Him.  There is glorious light and grace and mercy as we get on our knees and pray for those who insult and persecute us, as we love our enemies and turn from the temptation to gossip and slander our brothers and sisters.  May the light of Christ shine brightly in our lives this year.  May we love one another abundantly as we seek to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.  Happy New Year friends!  I look forward to seeing how the Lord works His light in our lives this year.