Meditations: "Brighten the Corner"

Know this song?

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.

You can see all of the lyrics here.

Do you know someone who radiates light and joy every time you see them? I can think of a few. Don't you just love to be around a person like that? I'm afraid I have some slight Eeyore tendencies... at the very least, I tend to be very serious. Serious is ok, but grumpy is not. In these cold winter days dealing with illness, hardships, and at the very least, lack of sunshine, it is a challenge, but God would have us be that ray of light.

No matter what our circumstances, God wants us to be filled with His joy, and to radiate His light. My admonition to myself is: Be true to your duties, and "brighten the corner where you are."

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 - He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (ESV)

Really? Take pleasure in our toil? Take pleasure in changing dirty diapers, scrubbing floors, washing dishes, and folding laundry?

Yes. Really.

It is God's gift. "He has made everything beautiful in its time." He has put the joy and the beauty there, and it is our job to find it and fill our lives with the light of His joy. When we do, we will see that there is nothing better.

Nehemiah 8:10 - For the joy of the LORD is your strength. (ESV)