The light within us

by Karen Lang, posted in Finding Deep Happiness, Friendship, Giving Freely, Knowing you are enough

“Do you know yet?  It is your light that lights the world.”    –  Rumi

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him.  They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was, and he got up to leave but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But, before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” But, before her son responded, she added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”

http://www.moralstories.org/

When we spend time with someone and stop focusing on our own expectations and needs, we can begin to see the true nature of love within them.  Being in this presence, we open ourselves to see the light reflected back within us.

54 thoughts on “The light within us”

  7. What a beautiful sentiment . . . “When we spend time with someone and stop focusing on our own expectations and needs, we can begin to see the true nature of love within them. Being in this presence, we open ourselves to see the light reflected back within us.” Thank you for this wonderful wisdom.

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  19. Karen, Wonderful story and reflection at the end of your post.
    Love is not in the fulfillment that others bring to us but rather in the fulfillment that we bring to others. On one’s wedding day, the bride’s only thought is of the groom, and the groom’s only thought is of the bride. That is selfless sacrificial love, when all that matters is the welfare of the other. At that moment each knows the love of God.
    -Alan

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    1. So true Alan. So many seek that love in others, only to find themselves never fulfilled. Love is exactly how you describe, and that selfless love is how we see the gift of God in each other.

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