Let It Shine!

I must admit that one of my favorite things to do is people watch. For some reason, observing human behavior is fascinating to me. I often wonder what a person is thinking, why they chose to wear a particular garment, or why they do the things they do. I’ve found that airports and malls are great places to people watch. Just recently while traveling to a speaking engagement in The Bahamas, I encountered a person that was watching me. I flew from Houston to Ft Lauderdale and was waiting for my connecting flight to my destination, Nassau, Bahamas. While there, I decided to grab a bite to eat. After eating I began to stretch. The flight from Houston had my neck and back stiff, so right in the waiting area amongst hundreds of people I started to do Pilates. I’m sure people were watching me, but I didn’t care because I needed the relief I feel whenever I’ve just completed a Pilates session. After touching my toes and rising up, I noticed a woman
standing very close to me. She actually joined in with and even began showing me a more efficient way to stretch. She said she had been watching me and now as she demonstrated other Pilates stretches, I watched her. I couldn’t help but notice the light that emanated from her being. I wanted stay in her presence, but we were going in two different directions. We didn’t talk about religion or spirituality but I knew that light. She was more that a friendly observer, she was one who carried with her a light that was obvious to those around her.
I remembered the scripture that says, let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the father (Matthew 5:16). This made me take inventory of my own life. While I know that God lives in me and his light shines through me, I became more aware that day how important it is to let my light shine. Our world is filled with individuals who bring darkness, through negativity, bad habits, violence and hate. But when we purpose in our hearts that we will become vessels of light, we not only impact others, just as this woman did to me, we also glorify God. Ask yourself today, when others see me what do they see. I don’t mean the exterior you, I’m speaking of the authentic you. Do they see God’s light shinning through you illuminating the darkest of situations? Or do they see overcast, gloom and despair.
We should all be deliberate about letting our light shine. No, we are not perfect but when we have the One who spoke light into existence living in us, we can bring light into our world, brighten someone’s day and glorify God. Try it today. Smile at a stranger, speak a kind word, or lend a helping hand and watch that light make a difference. Be light and let light shine through you.
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Kim Bady is an inspirational speaker, author, consultant, full-time student, and loving mother who empowers women to embrace authenticity and transcend limitations in their lives.

In her new book, Authentically Me, Kim challenges women to remove the layers that are used to define them in order to discover the beauty of authenticity.
Click here to order "Authentically Me" by Kim Bady.