Let - it - Shiiiiiine!!!
Feb 03, 2026
January is already over, but it's been a pleasantly gentle beginning to 2026. I enjoyed some holiday travels out west for Christmas and to the east coast for New Year's Eve. It was a delightful reminder thay joy is gathered in bits and pieces from all over!
One joyful memory from the bunch happened during a lovely stay with my son, his wife, and their three little children. Each time I stay with my granddaughter (she’s 3), I love to choose a Primary song we can sing together again and again each day. She loves music so much, and it has become such a sweet tradition to me, and a bond we can share even when we’re far apart. This time, I chose the song “This Little Light Of Mine.”
But then came a surprise! As we sang together, one of her baby brothers perked right up and joined in! Since he and his twin are only 20 months old and just learning to connect simple words, I hadn’t even thought about including them. But he absolutely loved it. Even though he couldn’t articulate most of the sounds, he was locked on. And when we reached the end of each verse, he sang with his whole body: “LET - IT - SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!!!!
It was the sweetest, unexpected taste of joy, and a reminder to me of so many things.
For some of us, the holidays can bring up LOTS of different emotions. Our ideals bump up against our evolving realities. The friction can sometimes jolt like a spark of static electricity, or throb like a blister on your heel. That’s to be expected. We can hold space for it.
But also, like C.S. Lewis we can be “surprised by joy” in places we weren’t even looking! Who knew that this tiny boy, barely emerged from babyhood, would be able to feel the power of that song, and even to participate and shine his light so brightly?
Actually, in retrospect, of course I knew! I just forgot. We are all born to shine, and our ability to articulate words has little to do with it. With our spirits and our bodies - our souls - we can shine almost without even meaning to. It happens as we discover new ideas. As we connect with other people. And as we open or rebuild the pathways inside ourselves for that light to flow.
It reminds me of this famous quote from Marianne Williamson -
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Adding another enthusiastic soul to our little choir was such a delight to both me and my granddaughter. His whole-body singing did give us “permission to do the same!” From now on (at least on the inside) when I sing that song I’ll be belting out “LET - IT - SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!”
Have you felt your own light shining lately, friend? I hope so. But whether you’re glowing or flickering, I hope you’ll join us for our monthly Gathering of Light on Friday February 13th. It’s the perfect place to get recharged, shine your light, bask in others’ light, and feel the companionship of growing and glowing together.
I would absolutely love to have you join us!
February 2026 Gathering of Light
Friday February 13th, 1:00-2:00pm Eastern
