Sparkly All Over!

        Our granddaughter loves anything that sparkles: glittery hair bands, t-shirts with color-changing sequins, and matching sparkle shoes and purses. She beams from ear to ear with a bright smile that comes from joy deep within.       
         One afternoon, our granddaughter's aunt came to visit. Noticing her aunt had donned a sparkly new ball cap (and wore a favorite rhinestone trimmed shirt and gleaming bracelet), our granddaughter exclaimed, "Aunt B., you're sparkly all over!"  
        She was right. Aunt B was sparkly all over, but she was sparkly on the inside, too. The moment Aunt B walked into a room, she'd exuded warmth, joy, and compassion for whoever was around her and could bring a smile to even the most glum face. Her heart shined brightly.     
       We are encouraged to shine brightly, too. In Matthew 5:14, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus began to teach disciples. Part of his instruction had to do with shining brightly. He told his disciples, "You are the light of the world," and later added, "...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." 
        In this new year, you can be "sparkly all over," too--especially when you let the light within you shine brightly! 
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