LET THE SUNSHINE IN

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

Written by: Jenny Calvert

But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2 (NRSV)

Roxie was loved by all. She was in her 90’s, and was one of the oldest in the choir. Her resounding voice, offensive in nature, was often off pitch because of poor hearing. No one could care less, because we loved her. She always had a grin on her face and kind words to speak. One day when she was late for rehearsal, she came in the door at a trot. I couldn’t believe my eyes, a woman that age leaping and hopping down the aisle to the choir loft. She was so full of joy.

With that big smile you would never know she had a difficult personal life. Her husband had died, she had a child in prison and another had committed suicide. Roxy had every reason to have a bad attitude or to be bitter, but instead the joy of the Lord in her life was tangible.

 One day a friend of mine asked her, “Roxie, why do you always have a smile?” Her answer, “Because, if I wouldn’t smile, I would just crumble inside.”  Roxie was a shining example of 2 Corinthians 6: 10 which states, “Our hearts ache, but at the same time we have the joy of the Lord.” (TLB)

Roxie had opened her heart to the sunshine of God’s love. He was holding her up and He was holding her together. The indisputable fact was that Roxie faced life with joy, enthusiasm and of course, with that big grin. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was a witness of Christ dwelling in her, by His light that shown from her.

Dear Father of Light,

Thank you for Roxie and the wonderful light of yours that shown through her. Help me to always show the hope, love and joy to others as she did to me.

In Your Name,

Amen