Making Room for the Light

Gloria Ashby is a wonderful storyteller and my guest blogger today. Thank you, Gloria for offering your gift to us and letting your light shine.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

 

The child's wavy blond hair fell around her face as she peered into the hole carved into the top of the pumpkin. "Gross. Isn't this clean enough? It's icky. Isn't there enough room for the light?" she whined to her brother, who kneeled close by and bent over his own pumpkin with both hands thrust inside.

Remembering my past pumpkin carving rituals, I paused in the middle of sorting pansies to see if someone would rescue the child and finish the task for her.

"Not clean enough," the brother declared after examining his sister's pumpkin. The girl rolled her eyes, sat back on her heels and sighed, tossing her scoop to the ground. Her brother shrugged his shoulders and returned to his own pumpkin preparation. She'd get no help from him.

The girl's mom paused from leaf raking and glanced toward her children.

Ahh, mom to the rescue, I assumed. Wrong.

Mom leaned on her rake where she stopped her yard work. She encouraged her daughter to continue. "Scrape it clean — all the way to the walls. Get all the seeds and stringy stuff out."

"Why?" the child still resisted the disgusting task.

"So you can put the candle inside and let the light shine through."

The young girl cocked her head, as if considering whether she wanted a light in her pumpkin. After 60 seconds of weighing options, her wrinkled forehead relaxed. She picked up her scoop and kneeled to finish cleaning the pumpkin's icky insides.

Microsoft clip art

"Now I'm done," the child's voice drifted with the breeze into my yard. I watched the father round the corner from back of the house and walk over to the newspaper full of pumpkin goo. He inspected his daughter's work, nodded and smiled as if to say, "Well done." Then, without a word, he lowered himself to the ground and began to carve the pumpkin's face through which the light would shine.

In that moment, I understood the Father's call on my life. Only when I choose to be emptied of the goo of self-will, self-control, and self-love, can God transform me to make a difference. The more I empty myself of the goo, the more room I make for Him to fill me with His Holy Spirit. I am called to do as my young neighbor did ... to hand my life to the Father and let Him shape me into the person He created me to be.

But first, I must choose to empty myself. To make room for His Light.

"You are the light of the world...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16, NIV).

For more of Gloria's story devotionals, link to her web page at http://www.gloriaashby.com/

 

 

 Gloria Ashby's passion for teaching began at the age of five with stuffed animals as her audience. Drawing from over 20 years experience, Gloria speaks with wit and wisdom to faith-based as well as professional business groups. She is a Christian Communicators graduate and contributing author to Love is a Verb, The Heavenly Company, and The Plight Before Christmas. Her stories appear in The Secret Place, The White's Chapel Herald, and several Chicken Soup for the Soul publications. Gloria lives in Texas with her husband, Jim. They have one daughter who lives close by with her husband and four dogs.
Find more of Gloria's speaking topics and reflections at her website,  www.gloriaashby.com.
Email Gloria at gloria.ashby7@gmail.com  

 

 

 

Today's Featured Resource will help you to reflect God's light in your world:

Back cover: "Christians can and ought to be the movers and shakers of social change -- 'roaring lambs' who infiltrate and make an impact on their workplace and world with their faith."

 

Is There a Better Way to Work?

My guest today is Dr. Michelle Bengtson. I think her illustration of the hamster wheel is one I can relate to. And, the Lord has slowed me down many times when I have fought my common sense.  I am thankful for her message; I know her words will be an encouragement...

 

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

 

Allow me to introduce myself.  I am a recovering Type-A personality.  All my life I have been a
do-er, a very goal-oriented individual.  Often, it has served me well. I have been able to work full-time, help manage the family responsibilities, stay active in church, and respond to emergencies when they arise.  Yet, sadly, there have also been times when it has not been to my advantage:  Times when I’ve taken on too much and felt like a hamster on a hamster wheel, going faster and faster and faster with no way off until I just collapsed.  In those times, I often had a hard time saying no…I didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, or I felt like if I didn’t say yes than a vital need of someone else’s would go unmet, and sometimes, if I’m being honest, I just didn’t want someone to not like me. 

 

There are many different motivations for work. Sometimes we take on for curiosity sake, to see what we might learn. Sometimes we take on tasks for the approval or admiration of others. Other times, we take on tasks with the express purpose of accomplishing a specific goal.

 

If you were to ask me about my motivation for work, I’d have to honestly say, that I usually take on tasks to accomplish a goal.  I tend to be fairly performance-driven with a goal of perfection whenever possible. I can think of numerous times when I have spouted my general philosophy to my children: “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

 

I remember being taught in Sunday School that whatever we do, we should do it as if we are doing it for God:

 

“And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father...Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:17 & 23 (NLT)

 

I believe we should strive to do whatever we do well, yet for the majority of my life I equated that with striving for perfection, working longer, or working harder to achieve. Somehow I missed the rest of Paul’s encouragement to give thanks to God for the work He has given us to do and to work cheerfully at whatever you do.  Many times I have worked long and hard hours toward some end, but have neither been cheerful about it in the process, nor particularly thankful for the task.

 

As I began to practice thanksgiving and cheerfulness at work, an amazing transformation began to take place.  Work began to feel less like work, and more like opportunity. I began to enjoy each phase of a task rather than just looking toward the point of completion. Others around me seemed to enjoy their work more also. We could encourage each other to stay the course then celebrate each others’ “successes” in jobs well done.  Paul seemed to have the right idea: work hard as if we are working for God, and in the working, be thankful and cheerful for the work we have the opportunity to do. 

How would your work change if you practiced thankfulness and cheerfulness at work?

 

                                                           Hope Prevails!

                                                                         Michelle

 

Dr. Michelle Bengtson is a speaker and writer in Southlake, Texas, where she shares hope for hurting hearts.  She has learned to see the joys of life through difficult situations by remembering the promise found in Jeremiah 29:11. Her desire is to share this joy and encourage others to hold fast to hope. In her writings and when she speaks to churches, groups and other organizations, she draws on 20 years of professional experience as a neuropsychologist and over 25 years of marriage and family life offering sound biblical advice on all types of emotional issues. 

If you would like to read more of Michelle’s posts, or are interested in having her speak at one of your events, visit her website: http://drmichellebengtson.com/

She can also be found on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DrMichelleBengtson or

Twitter: @DrMBengtson

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