Shine Your Light
by Mary Manners
“An
anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”
~Proverbs
12:25~
The water cooler at work is a popular place where we can catch
up on the latest news—and the latest gossip. Sometimes we worry…is a coworker
more popular? Did someone else get that promotion we were vying for? Or,
perhaps, we witnessed co-workers in some activity outside work that appeared to
be less-than-honorable, and we’re just checking our facts with others.
Did you know that each of us has a light that shines straight from our heart, but that sometimes that light needs a little boost...a bit of polish? Wisdom and experience have taught me that harsh words and gossip drain energy from the light and act as an anchor to the soul. When we
focus on the negative, we are weighed down as if that very anchor is attached to our
hearts…dragging others into the depths of darkness right along with us. I have made a conscious effort to shine my light and share kindness with others. It costs nothing to offer a smile or a kind greeting to a passerby, and you never know how such a gesture might brighten another's day.
So, consider this...do your words and gestures lift up others or drag
them to the depths of despair? Is your time at the water cooler spent sharing God’s love as you shine your light,
or filling others with fear, apprehension, and darkness?
From this day forward, make an active effort
to spread kindness and good cheer. Turn your anchor into a life raft that shines with the very light of your heart…one word, one smile, and one gesture at a time.
~~~~~
With a father known as the town drunk and a mother who fled
when he was only six, Ryder learned early on that the world can be a cold,
unforgiving place. Only two people in his life have ever understood him: "Mama" Stallings and sweet Ali
Maclaren. But after a tragic accident, guilt chases Ryder from the town that's
labeled him trouble, and from Ali.
Seven years later Ryder returns after Mama Stallings's death
and finds that Ali is considering marriage to a man with a mean streak he
masterfully hides from all but Ryder, a man who'll do whatever's necessary to
remove Ryder from Willow Lake, and Ali's life, forever.
Can Ali find a way to forgive Ryder and can Ryder forgive
himself before another tragedy occurs?
~~~~~
Mary Manners is an award-winning romance author who lives along the
beautiful shores of Jax Beach with her husband, Tim. She loves her toes in
the sand, running, flavored coffee and cotton candy sunsets followed by starlit
nights.
Mary believes everyone has a story to tell, and she enjoys sharing
hers. She writes inspirational romances of all lengths, from short stories to
novels—something for everyone.
Learn more about Mary Manners at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.
