Last week at work, I was emailing back and forth with a woman trying to help her fix an issue. In her last email, she sent me an apology for wasting my time because she thought what I had been working on wasn’t needed.
She ended the email with “Keep Shining.” It surprised me because I have never received that kind of message during a professional correspondence. It also made me smile.
I have not met this woman face to face. We don’t know much about each other beyond the work we were discussing. Even though it turned out that my time wasn’t wasted because the effort I had put in did correct the problem, I was still touched by those two words.
It reminded me that even though I am spending my workday communicating with others by phone or computer, I can still convey kindness. Even though my face to face contact is usually spent behind a mask, I can still show others I care.
Those two encouraging words – Keep Shining – reminded me that the tone of my voice over the phone or the words I chose to use in an email or text can make a difference. Even though the bottom half of my face is covered, I can still smile behind my mask. When I do, my eyes will squint or maybe even sparkle a little. The biggest thing keeping me from shining is my own attitude or response to a situation.
Jesus actually addressed this in the Sermon on the Mount. He said:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:14-16
These days can feel shrouded in darkness with all of the issues 2020 has brought us. Jesus calls us to let our light shine before others. When we do that, we are obeying Jesus, encouraging others, and glorifying God.
In the darkness of these often-frustrating days, I encourage you to be the light that Keeps Shining.