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Friday nights, when I was growing
up, were designated “Family Night”. I looked
forward to them all week long, never quite knowing what we were going to do. We had a limited income and back then, there
was no such thing as movie rentals or dvd players or vcr’s, for that matter. My parents never let that hinder them from coming up with some very clever family night outings.
One of my favorite family nights
was going to Kmart. Dad would give us
each a dollar to spend and we could buy whatever we wanted. I remember walking up and down the aisles
debating endlessly about how I was going to spend that one dollar. I usually ended up with a half gallon carton
of malted milk balls. It wasn’t quite a
dollar so whatever was leftover I would pool with my sister and we would buy a
pack of gum to share.
Kmart was famous back when I was
growing up for their “Blue Light Specials” (unadvertised specials that were
announced in the store). While walking
around the store shopping, someone on the loud speaker would say, “Welcome
Kmart shoppers we have a blue light special in aisle 4. We have just marked down tennis racquets from
$20.99 to $15.99. This will only be for
the next half hour so hurry and stop on by to get yours.” Then we would all rush over to aisle 4 even
if we didn’t need tennis racquets just to see for ourselves whether it was true
or not and just maybe we might be able to get one.
“Blue Light Specials” were
designed to get people’s attention and they did just that. They drew people to them, even when they
weren’t really interested in the product.
Matthew
5:14-15 (NLV) says, “You are the
light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one
lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a
stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.”
As I read these verses, I was reminded of Kmart’s long ago, Blue Light Specials.
As followers
of Jesus, we are to be Jesus’ “Blue Light Special” to the world. We should stand out, we should be different! The light within us should radiate to those
around us, to those we come in contact.
When we love
unreservedly, forgive quickly, give without expecting anything in return,
extend grace when it isn’t deserved this marks us as different. It’s as if we’re standing in aisle 4 proclaiming,
“We’ve got a deal of a lifetime and you’re not going to want to miss! This deal transformed my life and it can change
yours too!”
So let me
ask you, is your light shining? Or have you covered it up and kept it to
yourself? Do you live like you have the
deal of a lifetime?
We have a “deal”
that surpasses all deals, a deal of a lifetime.
Let’s not keep it to ourselves!
VERY clever analogy, Kristy. Wanna be that light :)
ReplyDeleteHide it under a bushel, NO! I'm gonna let it shine!
ReplyDeleteI remember the KMart Blue light specials. But I'd usually end up in the music department looking for the latest 45 single for $.99.