This year has been like a replacing a burned out bulb

This morning we replaced a burnt out lightbulb in our fan light. It was amazing! Actually, changing a lightbulb really isn't that amazing, but it was pretty astounding how it ended up changing the whole room. 

We have lived here for four years thinking that the lights in our family room were a dull yellow-brown. It had always seemed so dingy in the room, even though, we had added two other light fixtures.  

What we discovered when we put a new bulb into the fixture was that the glass shade really was white! Immediately, I had my husband replace the other bulbs. It changed the whole atmosphere in the room. We hadn't realized until the bulb went out that all we needed to do was put brighter bulbs in the fixtures. What a difference it makes!

Several times this evening, I've gone out to our family room just to stand there and admire the light.  It seems that many times it isn't until we are stopped from going along our normal way, that we discover that changes need to be made in our lives. 

For me, this last year has been challenging, but it certainly hasn't been a wasted year. It has made me stop and think about what I've been doing, and not doing. This year has given me an opportunity to change out my dim, yellow-brown bulbs for bright clean light. It has helped me develop a closer relationship with God and my family. It has given me a chance to change my life for the better. I don't think I'll ever view a burnt out bulb the same, or look back on this year without feeling grateful for the opportunity I've had to change.