I like to make photo albums of my family for each year. I am just now working on our 2009 album, yikes! I have to wait for long periods of quietness and relentless nagging in my head that says 'Just do it already!'. Its not really that fun to sit on a computer for hours and upload 750 pictures, sort them, fix them when necessary and then place them in the album pages you also create. However, going through the pictures is also very nostalgic for me. I 'oohhhh' and 'ahhh' over family trips and tear up at the disbelief that in ONE YEAR my children have grown so much! I linger on the ones that really touch my heart. I remember looking through the lens and thinking how special they are, and I can see that and feel that when I look at certain shots. My older son kissing his baby brother. My husband's handsome smile and his crystal blue eyes striking the shot of a snow covered canvas. The baby asleep in my arms. I don't just see the pictures, I hear piano notes. I hear their laughter and a video is going in my head that is choreographed with life. A life so beautiful I didn't know it was possible.
When I was little my mom used to call me her sunshine. Now that I am grown I have my own sunshines. My sunshines, my first lights, my blue skies, my loves, my precious children. I think everybody needs a little sunshine in their life. Light that is so tender and pure that it lights places inside of you that you never knew existed. Maybe even dark places that you have kept covered and shaded. I have had both places inside of me.
Jesus tells us that He is the light. If we walk in Him, we will "never walk in darkness but have the light of the world" John 8:12. Developing a relationship with our Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity not only to be the recipient of unconditional love but to give it. I can honestly say that I had absolutely no idea that this kind of life, these images I am going through, could belong to me. That there could be sunshine inside of me that is so bright, I illuminate it. Dark places could be vanished and unknown areas suddenly become very real and vibrant. That is the promise and the Light of Jesus that He speaks of. An unconditional and radiant light that shines not only inside of us, but through us.
My children are being raised to know the Lord and their innocent and raw love for their Heavenly Father is all the reward a mother could ever want! Little hands raised high and sweet voices singing praise...so precious it melts my heart. My little sunshines, my gifts from Jesus! I know I didn't do anything to deserve these snapshots, these moments in time that represent a life as a whole that I call my own. Still they have been given to me. I am humbled and grateful for all of this sunshine!
Thank you Jesus for lighting my life! Thank you for the warmth of my family and the brightness of my beautiful sons! Like the dawn You created, You rose and changed my life! Thank you for Your sunshine!
