Be Bright!

Good morning,

I hope everyone’s week before Christmas is filled with space and time to get all the things done as well as time to sit, maybe in the morning with your cup of coffee or tea and just smile with the little, happy connections you have made with friends and strangers this Christmas.

Yesterday, I went shopping in our little town of Excelsior to finish up some items and I saw an old friend in the parking lot and hugged and laughed and caught up. As I walked away my joy level was on high. The shop I was going to turned into a fun hour of searching for the perfect gifts for several of the gals on my list. I mentioned I wanted something little for my Bible Study friends and the two salespeople had cross necklaces or rocks that said “hope,” “friendship,”… things like that, but what really struck me were some little rustic ornaments made out of wood and wire, painted red and stamped in white with the words, “Be Bright.” I said, “We are to be the light of Christ, not hide it under a bushel. I love these. I will take five of them!” The owner of the shop loved that and would not let me pay for five of them. She wanted me to have them as a gift.

I then went across the street and found the perfect gift for another friend and asked them to stack up the items and wrap them in clear cellophane with a red bow and greens since the shop does gift baskets as part of their store. Well, the gift looked so pretty, I decided to buy four more just the same. The owner of the store asked if she could take pictures of them for her Instagram! I laughed and said, “Sure, we have to share how adorable these are.”

I headed down the main street to a fabulous restaurant called Coalition and met two wonderful friends for Happy Hour–or HH, as I like to call it. We always make time at Christmas to have a night to connect, catch up, and share. My beautiful friend, Zina, as we were getting ready to leave told me she really loves the spiritual messages and sends them to her children or friends if they seem fitting and she hoped I would keep writing them. I tell you I feel so blessed to write them and thankful that in my small way I can be the light to shine for my sweet, amazing, wonderful friend, Jesus. I will write them always!

Yesterday, I had joy, fun, connection, laughs, all the while spending on people I want to bless and you know… I was the one blessed! Our attitude is one of the things we get to control and share with others every day.  Be Bright! You get Bright back in spades!!

Love you and Merry Christmas, Teri