Today's thought, letting your light shine.
This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. During these last few years I have had a lot of stress on my plate. I am a mom of two, a wife and a college student. About a year after we were married we found out I had cancer in my thyroid. My husband and I both worked full time and he went to college as well. It was hard to go through illness (mostly physically alone) but it didn't dim my testimony or my closeness to God. I went into remission and then I had two beautiful daughters.
After my second child was born my cancer returned. I was terrified. This time, I didn't turn to the Lord as I should have. I was tired, I was discouraged, I knew what I was up against. Luckily my cancer was slow growing and it went away surprisingly easy. I was lucky, I am back in remission again. This time I let myself drift away from the things of the spirit. I didn't read my scriptures and pray as often as I had in the past. I started watching and listening to media that didn't match my values. The church and it's teachings in the had before brought me great joy and comfort, I had forgotten that.
Then I encountered people who were not comfortable with things like my church. They didn't share my values, so I put a big part of who I am on the back burner. I downplayed the importance my faith is in my life. I dimmed my light to try and make others more comfortable. It was a mistake. I am not ever saying to be pushy about your beliefs but to be an example of the teachings of Christ in all you do.
By dimming my light, I got a little lost. You see by obeying the commandment "let your light so shine before men" it doesn't just help others it's really the most help to yourself. We are in rough days and traveling hard paths, if we dim our light we not only loose our ability to help others but we stumble or take the wrong path ourselves. In navigating rough terrain do we want less light, or as much as possible? For me I need to see the alternative paths and the stumbling blocks so I can make sure to follow HIM.
"....I've learned to never let someone influence you to change your values. I have spent a lot of time trying to pretend I enjoy and accept things that I do not. All to please someone other than myself. It is important to live in a way that helps you to be a happier you, a kinder you, and makes you feel at peace. You are better off by yourself living in this way than trying to live a life you hate to make someone else accept you and love you."
She is so right! It reminded me of one of my favorite sayings:
That just means, be true to yourself and don't change or dim your light for anyone! In the end we are responsible for that light inside us that tells us what is right and where to go. If we don't keep our light burning bright then we don't have the ability to share that light with others. 
You have to have a spark to make a fire to light the way. Don't lose that inner spark, kindle it into a fire to see clearly and guide others.
I am not saying you are responsible for the choices of others but some have never seen the light. At first it may hurt their eyes and cause them to look away.
They will choose to seek the darkness or they will adjust to the light. The light is the source of warmth and truth, when they adjust they may want more. If when they first shrink from the light you dim yours to make them more comfortable you may accidentally extinguish your little light, protect it! 
Fire wants to breathe and grow, the fire of Gods love does too. It's a living thing, it needs fuel and if neglected of gas or oxygen, it can die. I am far from perfect, I am seeing my flaws in that light. I got a little rusty and dusty in losing my way. I am in the process of dusting myself off so I can be clean like he is.If you protect and nourish that light you can make it grow. By growing that light through prayer, scriptures and following inspired guidance soon it will fill the room. Others will want to come out of the darkness and join you in that room.
No unclean thing can enter his presence. I need that light to find all my dusty areas and clean it adequately so I can be with him. It is my strongest desire! So here's to 2016 a year of love and light and being my true self.
Best wishes, Lori
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