Joy From Within

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

“It’s kind of amazing when you hear about someone’s life,” I commented to a friend as we left a women’s event. “Someone can look so put together on the outside but then you hear their story and you realize how much they’ve overcome.”

“Yeah,” she responded. “It’s easy to think someone else has had a perfect life or has never struggled when you see how they’re doing today.”

At the event, our new friend Autumn had shared her story for the first time to a group of women. I had met her a couple of years earlier because she worked at a boutique I would shop at regularly. We became Instagram friends, and I was drawn to her outgoing and positive personality. She has a way of lifting the atmosphere in a room, allowing others to feel loved and accepted.

But what I found out that night was that Autumn’s joyful disposition doesn’t come from an easy life. She’s had many experiences that caused heartache and pain. More than most. As she spoke, I realized that part of her joy comes from authentically sharing all of her life and using even the hard things that have happened as a way to connect with others. She’s not fake. She’s real. And her ability to encourage others in whatever they’re facing through her own story is a gift. She is a light. And she shines brightly.

Oftentimes, people can look so composed on the outside, leading us to assume that their lives are perfect. In turn, this can make us want to hide our own imperfections or past mistakes because we feel like we’re the only one with our history.

But just like Autumn has learned that part of the secret of experiencing joy is to be true to who you are and share your story with others, we can do the same. We can be honest and use even the difficult times we’ve walked through to encourage those around us, letting them know they’re not alone. And when we do, we become a light that others are drawn to. We become like a city on a hill that no one could overlook.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Who can you encourage by sharing part of your own story?