Christmas Lights

I think we can all agree that this year has had rather dark undertones. From cancellation or modification of annual events, quarantines and financial issues to hospitalizations and death from a virus that, at the beginning of the year was unknown, the year has taken a toll on all of us in one way or another.

The other day, I was driving on what was a dark, cold, and rainy evening I passed a display of Christmas lights at the local nursing home. In that split second as I passed, I thought how those lights really were the epitome of this entire year. For that split second, I thought about the darkness that seems to have enveloped everyone and everything in every facet of life. But then, it struck me how the lights really popped in the chilly, rainy darkness.

Each one of us has the opportunity during this holiday season to be a light to someone else. Maybe you have or plan to help a family have a bit merrier Christmas this year, or maybe you simply have paid for the ticket behind you in the drive-through line. Either way, those acts of kindness can shine bright, no matter what darkness the recipient is currently in.

This is my challenge to you: what if we made an effort to be Christmas lights to others, even after the Christmas holidays have ended? What if we took the time, money, and effort to do a small act of kindness for someone else regularly? How much cold and darkness could we dispel simply by doing small acts of kindness for others instead of simply thinking of ourselves?

You can choose to do as you wish, but I plan to make a concerted effort to shine a little extra light into the darkness for others. Who knows, maybe we all will begin to see a bit more light around us.