Fireflies and Candles: A Tribute To YOU

People tell me my eyes shine. Shall I tell you the secret behind it?

 There is so much light in my heart that my heart can't contain it all. The light bursts through the swelling of my heart  like a million pinpoints, a million little beams of light and, it is some of those light beams  escaping through my eyes, that light them up- making them shine.

While there are many sources for the light that swells in my breast, one of the biggest sources is YOU.

Let me back track:

I've always been fascinated by fireflies. I could do a whole post on them ( but maybe this will suffice). One  of my simple joys is to sit on my swing at dusk and wait for them. As the sun sinks into the tide of darkness, and as my eyes struggle to adjust, a tiny green flicker of a single firefly catches my view. And in that spreading darkness, that one little light shines like a neon sign. Such a little insect with such a little light, yet what an impact! In the oppressive blackness of night the little firefly defies the inkiness unafraid to flit around and shine.  My eyes search and catch one light after another.. until  the whole horizon is full of blinking flickering green lights as the fireflies come out in droves providing me, unintentionally, a mini firework show. The fireflies reassure me that I'm not alone, that no matter what can hide in the night, in the darkness, they are unafraid to shine that light and that I likewise should be unafraid to shine my light! In that dusk to dark, they create green stars of the night. It never ceases to amaze me how Huge the darkness is yet how quickly the minute light pierces it. As if the night is Goliath and the firefly is David.

By the same token, in a darkened room, what is the impact of one candle light? Soothing, glowing light that again defies the huge darkness. Enough candles and  the darkness is chased to the far corners of the room. Shadows flee and hide like criminals. 

My point here is: You might think anything you have offered me is too small to really count. But it is untrue! There is no act, or kindness or words too small that it  doesn't create that light in my heart. None of you are insignificant. Whether we are still in contact, whether it has been years, the light doesn't go out because of distance or infrequency.

My heart and by extension, my shining eyes, are full of  light that is made up of thousands & thousands of individual  lights; memories, service, laughter, love, unselfishness, shared heartache- thousands of individual lights each with their unique reason for finding residency in my heart.. Each light representing people, YOU, who impact my life the way the fireflies impact the night or candle light impacts a room. 

Do YOU know what YOU have brought to my life???

Do YOU realize how your moments with me, the moments in our lives, that we crossed paths, in whatever medium that happened to be, how those moments imprinted  my life? made me a better person?

Can YOU even begin to conceptionalize the change wrought inside me because I know you!

In what form can I express to you, how by adding light to my heart, YOU helped chase away darkness in me!

That even if  you don't call me a friend, something YOU said, some act, something I witnessed that gave me a glimpse into your soul lit a candle in my heart even unbeknownest to you!!

If I had time to name ALL the names I would, because the names and/ or  those moments are memorialized in my heart. But it would literally take HOURS to do that in this type of forum. Each person  is a source of  light. One little light added by others- then more and more little flames until my heart is full.

Let me try to randomly express moments,  maybe you'll recognise one as being yours! Sharing a disappoint you suffered and encouraging me in mine. smiling, listening, giving of your time, phone calls, lunches, generosity of not only  money but more importantly generosity in spirit! Encouragement, praise, trusting me with secrets, laughter and more laughter! Support, friendship, unexpected gifts, examples, faithfulness, prayers in my behalf, texts, pictures, making me feel as if I was important to you...
 I can't  express them all here, it would take pages!

     

My attempts to create a visual are sadly inept. Reconnecting with so many of you, game buddies, church friends, Jazz friends and so many more from so many more groups has made me realize that  the light YOU are responsible for is burning brightly inside me. It has made me wonder if I have neglected  thanking you. I feel compelled to tell you- I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for YOU!
You are  my fireflies in the night. You are my candles burning brightly.

So I urge you...
 Find the fireflies, find the candle lights within your heart!
Then go share with an author or authors of those lights how they have impacted YOU.
Maybe, if we all knew the value of the many lights we are responsible for lighting in others, we would be even more fearless in  living these words: "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16

It is my goal to thank you personally over the coming weeks if I haven't already, and share what you've done to  make my heart glow and eyes shine.
With Love & gratitude
Julianna