Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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On living in the light

October 23, 2014 by Kristin Leave a Comment

“You know, momma, I just don’t like the dark.”

Those words came from my 7-year-old girl when I was questioning about why she was having trouble going to sleep the other night. It’s a regular thing: She reads in bed reading for some time. She knows it’s time to turn out the light, but she’s hesitant. And she’s so much like me: Her mind gets going right when she should turn it off. But it’s not that easy, I know.

And, really, who likes the darkness?

So I give her a hug and kiss. I tell her I love her. I say a quick prayer for God to calm her and give her rest. And I don’t see her again until I check on her before I head to bed and then nearly nine hours later awake her for school.

LIGHT has been my word for the year. It’s a popular blogger thing to choose a word for the new year. Like a trendy resolution. I like words, so I’ve been going along with it the for past several years.

But this year has been different.

God has shown me LIGHT in so many areas. I’ve worked through some childhood hurt that has spilled over into my adult life. I’ve witness God’s glory in some hard days. I hear the word in songs and realize its meaning in my everyday life. Book after book I’ve read have pointed me the LIGHT – such a stark contrast the darkness so many of us fear.

And I’m in the middle of “Breaking Free” by Beth Moore. If you’ve gone through the study, you get it. If you haven’t, you should. So many times I’ve felt caught in the doorway between darkness and light. I want to shut the door to the dark room and live in the room with all the natural light coming in through the windows. I spend so much time there, but sometimes meander back to the darkness.

I’m learning how to let go of that tendency. I’m learning to grab onto God because with him there is no darkness. And it’s easier to close my eyes at night because I know I’m not alone. That’s what I want my girl to learn too.

She’s a talker and a thinker. For as many words as she says, I’m pretty sure she has even more thoughts. These conversations about the literal darkness have spurred on so many good words between us.

A few days passed after her confession that she just doesn’t like the darkness. Then she brought me three $10 bills and eleven pennies. She wanted to give it to me. I’m not sure why. She just said it was a gift. As sweet and sincere as the gesture was, I told her I’d like to her to think of something else to do with that $30.11.

After a few minutes, she said she’d like to send Roselyn, our Compassion International-sponsored girl in Guatemala, a gift. We are only allowed to mail flat things like coloring pages, sticker sheets, and letters, so I encouraged her to come up with some like that.

Then her big, brown eyes lit up: “Can I help some other kids like Roselyn?”

I’m not sure she comprehends how “kids like Roselyn” live. Truthfully, I’m not sure I do either. But the fact she wants her $30.11 to help someone else is good. She went to bed with a gift catalog – you know, the one where you can choose meals to feed the hungry and medicine to help the sick – and I didn’t hear about the darkness from her that night.

The next morning, she showed me what she had circled. “Mom, you may need to help me. These things add up to $67.”

You can’t put a price on LIGHT, but I’m certain $67 will buy more than some gospel tracks, hot meals, and medicine. That money will shine the light on some dark situations – in Guatemala, maybe in Ecuador, and certainly right here in my own American home.

________

It’s nearing the Christmas season. I know. Choosing gifts for others is such a joy. We’ve loved helping others through Compassion International and have had good experiences doing so. I’d encourage you to check out those gift catalogs for a meaningful, life-changing kind of gift-giving. We’ve also loved sponsoring children through Compassion International. There’s plenty of children who could benefit from your prayers, money, and relationship. 

Other posts about LIGHT :: One Word. Songs of Spring. Living & Learning. 

I’m linking this post with Lyli Dunbar’s Thought-Provoking Thursday. 

Want more stories? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

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Filed Under: Cate, Compassion, faith, motherhood, Thought-Provoking Thursday, words

Comments

  1. Lanette Haskins says

    October 23, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    Love this Kristin! What a beautiful reminder of what God created us to be…LIGHT in a dark world!
    God bless!

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    October 23, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    Hi, Lanette! Thanks for coming by here with kind words.

    Reply
  3. Beth says

    October 23, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    Oh my goodness, this was so good. So precious. Just filled with goodness. Makes me want to hug that adorable girl of yours and you too! I love you and your family!! xoxo

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    October 23, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    It was one of those stories filled with moments God totally orchestrated. As much as I think I like to be in control, I really do love it when I'm not. Love you, sweet friend.

    Reply
  5. Carol Van Der Woude says

    October 23, 2014 at 2:54 pm

    I love the way light is shining in your life.

    Reply
  6. KristinHillTaylor says

    October 23, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    Thanks, Carol! Glad to have you here.

    Reply
  7. Laura Thomas says

    October 23, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    Just beautiful how your daughter wants to BE light in the world… a wonderful example for us all! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Stopping by from TPT… Blessings to you!

    Reply
  8. KristinHillTaylor says

    October 23, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    I'm glad you stopped by, Laura! It's amazing how kids can set such a good example and not even realize they're doing so!

    Reply
  9. Jean Wise says

    October 23, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    Good reminder to blog and ponder my word of the year progress too. I love your story here. Coming over from Thought provoking Thursday!

    Reply

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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