Happy Lights – Devotion 16

String up the happy lights!  Enjoy the sparkle of joy in the otherwise mundane!  Brighten up someone’s day – light them up!  Don’t you feel the excitement?

For you, these may be simple Christmas lights.  Those are the lights you string on a tree or put around railing beginning in the November/December time frame.  But that’s not what I see.  I see happy lights.  These are the lights that signal celebration and joy.  These are the lights that bring color and life to an otherwise dull pallet. These can be key in lifting spirits and having fun.  These are happy lights!

As silly as this may sound, think of the feeling you get when you see these lights appear.  Think of the memories you have of Christmas past when these signaled that something special was happening.  When the lights went up in our home, that meant Christmas was not too far away.  It meant there would be time for breaks and goodies and lots of fun.  These signaled more than just a colorful display.  This sparkled of joy to come!

I think we could use a little more happy lights in our life.  I’m not saying we put up Christmas lights year round, unless you want.  I am not saying that we have to turn them on all the time, unless you need a little joy.  I am saying that we could use a little more joy in our lives more often.  We could use more celebration, more fun, more excitement.  That might mean lighting some happy lights.  It might mean holding a special meal just because.  It might mean singing just because singing lifts the soul.  It might mean buying balloons and flowers just because we need a little extra something in our homes.  Whatever it means for you, maybe we spread a little more joy this day.  Maybe we light some happy lights and just enjoy.

Focus Scripture

Psalm 100

¹ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.

³ Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;^[a]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.

⁵ For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.