Monday Motivation: Fairy Lights

Friends

What’s your favorite holiday decoration? I’m all about some Christmas lights!

 

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“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””

Luke 2:13-14 – NIV

 

 

 

 

Friends, I have a problem this Christmas. Yes, well, maybe it borders on an addiction. It’s called fairy lights. Yes, fairy lights.

 

For those of you unfamiliar with my latest obsession, fairy lights are a long, thin strand of LED lights powered by a small battery pack. The strand is thinner than a piece of yarn, but the light it produces is incredible. These strands are so flexible that you can wrap them around any surface. They are perfect for holiday garland, miniature Christmas trees, even table decor. Wrap a strand around whatever you want, add a couple of AA batteries, and “Wah-la!” Just like magic, that simple string of wire will light up your room!

 

Yes, I’m addicted. But it’s not my fault. My best friend Tami turned me onto them. I won’t reveal how many strands she has in use at her home, but I will say it’s gorgeous! That’s what got me started, and now, look where we are.

 

Oh, and it’s not just the fairy lights. It’s the battery-powered candles too. They offer the perfect glow of a regular candle without the danger of a flame, and no heavy scent to drive my husband up the wall. Did I mention that both the fairy lights and the candles operate by a remote control? Yep, one press of that tiny button, and the room is set aglow.

 

Obviously, I’m being a little tongue-in-cheek here, but honestly, these lights are truly amazing. Every night, I roam around the house, remote control in hand, pressing the button and grinning with delight as each strand or candle comes to life. I am truly laughing at myself because I now have some type of ornamental light to turn on in every room. There’s candles on my mantel with a garland full of fairy lights. There’s candles on side tables, even one on the bathroom counter. There’s a sparkling glass tree in my kitchen window. Even my snowmen on the dining room table are frolicking amongst the fairy lights. Did I mention the new multi-colored strand I added on the sun porch?

 

Yep, I told you the truth. I may have gone a little overboard here, but at night, it’s beautiful!

 

As I wandered through my house last night, turning on lights and grinning with sheer delight, I had to ask myself, what’s all this fascination with these lights about? I pondered this question for awhile. In truth, there is a practical side to my decorating decisions. Given my poor night vision, I require some type of light to navigate through a room. Usually, I turn on a lamp in each room in the main thoroughfare of my house. Now the candles serve that purpose. But it goes way beyond that functional purpose. If I really examine the motivation for my newfound light-craze, it’s because when I turn on those lights, it brings me a little thrill of Christmas joy. Yes, somehow it reminds me of that child-like thrill of joy I used to feel on Christmas morning.

 

What is it about Christmas lights that brings out our inner child? Clearly, we associate lights with Christmas. In every town in America, you can find lighted garland draped across a roadway or  glowing holiday motifs clinging to lampposts. Every neighborhood features at least one glowing  blow-up Frosty the Snowman. Without expending much effort, you can find  an illuminated Santa Claus lighting up a neighbor’s lawn.

 

Lights are a part of the Christmas celebrations of today, and light was a hallmark feature of the first Christmas celebration. On that night more than 2000 years ago, shepherds roamed the fields of Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks by night. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:9, NIV).

 

A great light shone in the darkness. A great light captured those bewildered shepherds’ attention. A great light heralded a new hope, the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah, the coming of the Christ Child. 

 

Light dispelled the darkness. Light illuminated a new hope. Light signaled a new birth, a new beginning. For on that dark, chilly night, in a shabby stable, in a meager manger, lay a little baby boy who would grow to transform the world. That tiny infant would become the light of the world, bringing a hope, a peace, a joy beyond anything the world has ever known. The light of that tender Christ Child would bring a life-giving love that would shine forevermore. That light would shine not only in Him, but in all who believe in Him.

 

Friends, you and I carry the light that was born on that long ago night. As followers of Jesus, we carry His light within us, just as we carry His love, His peace, His Joy, His hope. It’s there, inside us, just waiting for us to power it on, to let it shine, to set it aglow. 

 

Maybe I have too many lights in my house this Christmas. Perhaps I’ve gone a little overboard. My husband certainly thinks so! But those lights make me smile. They bring me joy, and isn’t joy and gladness what this season of Advent is all about?

 

Friends, you and I don’t need remote controls to turn on the light that lives within us. No extra batteries are required to spread our Christmas joy.. We already possess the power. So what are we waiting for? Today, tomorrow, and every day beyond, may our joy overflow, and our lights shine bright!

 

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““You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Matthew 5:14 – NIV

 

PRAYER

O Good and Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for sending us Your only Son to be the light of the world, to bring us a hope, a peace, a joy we cannot find anywhere else. As we celebrate this season of our Savior’s birth, may we overflow with joy. Let the light that lives within us shine bright for all the world to see.

In the Bright and Shining Name of Jesus, we pray,

Amen

 

Advent Blessings,

Anita

 

-APS 12/16/2024