January can be so gloomy and dark. In this post, I’m sharing 6 ways to bring light to the darkness of winter or any dark season in your life.
Garbage in. Garbage out.
I can’t remember where I first heard this, but I remember saying this to our kids as they were growing up. It covers so many things. Food, movies, tv shows (do we even say that anymore? TV?), conversations, books, music, even our visual landscape.
What’s the garbage? For me, it’s anything that makes me feel ICK. Notice that’s not completely SICK. Just part-way there. Not right. ICK. Inner Cracked Kingdom. That’s what I get. In my ICK state, I am less likely to love my people and love my God well. There’s less light.
Stressful TV. Messes on my kitchen table. Too much sugar. Gossip, especially the kind where we mask it with “did you hear and so we can pray.” Ugh. Darkness.
ICK. Garbage in. Garbage out. So, I’m paying attention to those things that influence me, to those things that I consume daily, and working on a few yes’s and a few no’s. I’ll share some lovely ways I’m adopting to bring light during January.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from a link, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
6 Ways to Bring Light
- Yes to God’s Word, prayer, and devotion first thing in the morning. We just started the Today’s Light series for Bible reading, and it’s just right. No to starting the day with news.
- Yes to clearing the kitchen table and treating myself to the $4.49 fresh flowers at the grocery store every so often. (No to stacks of newspapers that I don’t really read anymore. Going digital there.)
- Yes to more lovely and light-hearted shows like The Great British Baking Show and Lark Rise to Candleford, an older PBS series. I’ve heard about these for years and finally hopped aboard. Delightful. No to The Bachelor. (Yeah, I used to watch that. And I’m not shaming anyone who loves to watch that, not at all. It’s just not what I want to consume right now.)
- Yes to my favorite healthy snack that tastes almost like a caramel apple. A sliced honey-crisp dipped in almond butter and home-made granola.
- Yes to conversations that encourage, even if it’s just at the grocery store. A smile and a how-are-you-today greeting almost always finds another smile.
- Yes to my good January books I can’t wait to read for fun: The Weight of Ink and the Maisie Dobbs series. (I’ll share this month’s reads and reviews in my first-ever newsletter for all you subscribers. If you don’t receive my newsletter, click here to sign up!)
Lovely things in. Lovely things out.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)
What are some of the lovely things you consume? Do you notice how garbage in leads to garbage out in your life?
This post was prompted by the word INFLUENCE at Five Minute Friday where I join wonderful Christian writers to encourage each other. When you have time, check it out and you’ll find inspiring posts to read on the same topic. Looking for more devotions and reflections on faith? Click here.
