Seekers Of The Light

I am convinced that we are all born as seekers. There are things that we seek to know; to find; to understand. These are as varied as we are, however, the one thing that is innately inbred into the fiber of every human life and that is to seek the Light. There is a spiritual darkness into which we are born that cries out for LIGHT. Just as the Magi of the Christmas story, we are driven to find the One who came to be the Light of the World.

If you think about it, your kids – every time they push the limits- are seeking to find their way out of darkness and into Light. With each inappropriate behavior they are seeking guidance, even if they don’t realize it. If I had it to do over again, I would have treated the negative behaviors of my children as if they were simply seeking guidance, rather than defying my authority. What if I had reacted to naughty choices as an opportunity to shine His Light on their path? I guess I will never have the answer to that question, but I have a few suggestions for those of you who still have time to give it a try!

1)      When you are dealing with your child’s behaviors that are less than ideal, remember that guiding them means zero tolerance for bad choices. If you are not consistent with the things that will and will not be tolerated, your children will not see a path that is lit and safe to follow. They will see light that is bouncing everywhere and they will have no idea which way to turn. Keep the right path consistently lit by patiently directing them to proper choices and away from that which you have deemed unacceptable.

2)      When your kids are naughty it is easy to succumb to frustration which very easily turns into anger. Reacting out of anger may scare your children into submission (after all that is a dark behavior from which they will run) but it does not show them the light to which they should run. Remind yourself, when your fuse is becoming short enough for an explosion, that their behaviors are actions that are seeking Light; that bad behaviors are merely seeking to know where the boundaries lie, what is appropriate, what is not, what will be tolerated, what will not, what brings joy and acceptance, what does not. When we fail to shine the Light of Love to illuminate the path they should travel, the bad behaviors will continue. Sometimes kids push the limits to the point that you think they will never get it. Take a deep breath and let God shine through you to do what you don’t have the strength to do yourself.

3)      When you have taken a wrong turn on your path that has resulted in pain and separation from the Light, older children can begin to hear the PG version of your story so that they can see and hear the contrast and consequences of wandering from God. Remembering where you have come from will help you to refrain from shining a glaring light at their short comings. Shining the light at them will help them to see where they are, which is important, but the light mustn’t stay there, but be pointed in the direction they should go. Caution: when you are not on the right path, your kids are more likely to follow you than they are to follow the Light.

Lord, help us to see Your Light more clearly, follow Your Light more closely and reflect Your Light more truly as we guide our children towards the Light of Life.

Son Light, Not Spotlight

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand.

Then it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine in front of others.

Then they will see the good things you do and they will praise the Father in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Who doesn’t want to be held in high esteem for the good things we do? It feels good to be noticed when we make a sacrifice or go above and beyond. It’s only natural; however, when we do good for the applause of others, we are making it all about us and that is idolatry, pure and simple. We have taken the place of the only ONE who is deserving of praise.

Why then, did Jesus tell his followers that they should be sure to let others see the good they were doing? Because it is our task to make God known.

Always make sure that the light shining is not an exterior light that illuminates your good deeds, but an interior light on the Spirit of God living within you. The presence of God in you will create a new you and others will know that there is something supernatural about your attitude and actions.

The Spirit of God doesn’t take breaks. When the kids are naughty, that light is still within you. When your husband doesn’t help you around the house, that light is still inside you. When the finances are stretched to the breaking point, still the light shines. When your wife seems cold and distant, that light is still on. With every worry and unlovely attitude, we wrap ourselves in self-pity and the light that brings life is draped in darkness. His light becomes obscure.

Learn to walk with God and allow that Spirit within you to become the voice that you hear and the light that guides. As it shines, with no obstructions from our refusal to listen and follow, there will be growth. You will bear fruit in your life that will be transforming to you and to your family. You won’t be blinding them with a light that points to their short-comings. You won’t be in the spotlight, proving how great you are doing. Rather, God will shine through you and will reveal Himself in the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that will become who you are and God will be the one who is praised.

Following the Star

Every year there seems to be a new insight from the Christmas story that captures my thoughts. Lately I have thought much about the journey of the Magi; the Wise men following the star. They were intelligent men who had discovered an anomaly in the heavens. As they studied this new sighting they began to seek information on what it could mean. Were there predictions made in bygone years about such a thing? Digging deep into the annals of history, they discovered the writings of an ancient prophet named Isaiah who spoke of a LIGHT that would come. This LIGHT was to signify the birth of a Savior, a Messiah, the King of the Jews. They were not likely Jews and hadn’t been awaiting a Messiah. They hadn’t grown up hearing of the Redeemer that would end their bondage. They simply saw a light that intrigued them and determined that they must follow the light of the star to learn if this was, in fact, that light about which Isaiah had prophesied.

The question that this brings to my mind is- if our kids are not truly looking for Jesus... and kids typically are not... can they find Him through me? Is the LIGHT that points to Jesus shining from me in such a way that attracts them to the joy and abiding peace that His presence brings? 

When our kids were young we spent some time in the caves of Kentucky and learned a little bit about darkness and light. When they got too far from us, we didn’t point the light at them to help them find security and hope. We had to point it at ourselves so that they could find their way back. Often, when we are trying to direct our children we do so by pointing light at them… exposing their failures and short-comings. That is a blinding glare that prevents them from seeing the way they should go.

This Christmas, consider giving your children the gift of light that will direct them to Jesus, just as the star directed the Magi. Be the light that will attract, not create a glare that prevents them from the warm light of God’s undying love, so that, along with the Wise men of 2,000 years ago they will find Him and fall down and worship Him, Emanuel, God with us.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."

Matthew 2:1-2