I sat directly between the two and couldn’t help, but marvel at this meeting. You see . . . there was a past here. To my left, sat my daughter, and to my right, sat a teacher that our family loves and respects so deeply.

School has always been a place where my daughter feels she has to be guarded; a place where she is unwilling to let her true light shine. And, for an entire year, my daughter sat quietly in this teacher’s classroom. And, for an entire year,  this teacher gently and  persistently worked to earn my daughter’s trust. For an entire year, she worked to help tear down those walls my daughter had so carefully built to guard her heart.

And here we sat three years later. My daughter is chattering nonstop. She throws herself into fits of giggles as she uses different voices, and at one point is laughing so hard she is actually snorting. This girl beside me? This . . .  is my daughter in her truest form. This is who she really is; a girl who loves life, who passionately loves and defends her people, and is one of the funniest people I know.

Yet, she only lets her guard down for a few. Only a few get to fully experience my daughter’s true self. And . . . it’s a gift.

And that got me to thinking . . .

What do others see when they look at me? When others look at my life, do they see me in my truest form? Do they see a woman who’s life has been transformed by the love of Jesus and whose heart is completely captivated by Him? Or, do they just see the outer shell of the wall I have built to guard my heart?

In Matthew, we are told this:

 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:12-16 (MSG)

Can others see Jesus through my life? Do others see Him through my actions or hear Him through my words? What about you? Do others see a picture of Jesus when they look at your life?

Each of us was created uniquely by God, and we were created to shine brightly for Him. Let your light shine. Let your light shine so that others may see Him.