Save That Drama for Your Mama

Whew, what a crazy weekend. We diagnosed the problem of a toilet that wouldn’t stop running, I removed a hairball from the hose on my vacuum, and our girls hosted their first slumber party. Having five girls in the house was a hoot. Tears, tattling, and tantrums…yep that about sums it up.

After the Barbie marathon began and being the only males in a house dripping with estrogen, my husband and our dog Biscuit retreated to their man cave hide-out. Who could blame them?

Lots of second grader drama, four hours of sleep, and a whole lot of junk food later…

Stick a fork in ‘cause this mama is done.

Once the partying came to an end, I began organizing piles of lacy dress-up clothes and dismembered Barbies. Peeking out from underneath a pink, polka doted sleeping bag was my three year olds favorite ladybug nightlight. Unfortunately, the starry light had been switched into the “on” position all night. I sat on the edge of a flowery bed-spread wondering about the dimness of the ladybug. Her simple beauty still noticeable, but her light was only sort-of bright.

Oh sweet sisters, I feel this way a lot-- switched to the “on” position way too long, running on empty, worn thin, pressed on every side, and ready to hide.

Just like the nightlight, Jesus is a light shining in and through us.

I wonder, Is my light shining brightly for Jesus or am I a little on the dull side?

Is my weariness contributing to the loss of brightness I’m experiencing?

If my light is only kind of bright, then perhaps I’m only kind of following Jesus.

Paul says in Ephesians 3:14-19, the Holy Spirit gives us an inner strength so we can know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

When we’re “rooted and established” in Christ’s multi-dimensional love for us, our light will shine its absolute brightest. We will never grow dim or dull…

even after an all night sleep over.

Like Paul told the Ephesians, if we really understood the love of Christ, we wouldn’t care about all this other stuff. In my case, I wouldn’t be so distracted by clogged drains or pizza stains.

When we’re consumed by the fullness of God’s love our light beams like the ladybug when I put in new batteries.

It’s what makes us stand out when it’s easier to blend in.

It’s what keeps us pursuing hard after Jesus instead of pursuing other stuff.

It’s the faith fuel that keeps us going when that extra mile looks too hard.

When we truly understand the length, height, and depth of Christ’s love for us, then we will be “filled to the measure” and ready to shine.

Are you feeling bright, kind of bright, or dull today?