BE the HOPE, LIGHT, and JOY

 

MAY 25, 2023

Matthew 5:14 

You are the light of the world.

 

Matthew 5:16 

... let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

 1 Corinthians 13:13 

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

 

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

 

Nick Vujcic was born without any limbs. That’s right, no arms or legs. When you see him today, he is a powerful and influential communicator. Nick, travels the world speaking and inspiring people of all ages. 

However, it wasn’t all perfect for Nick. As a kid, as you can well imagine, he was blatantly bullied to the point of complete depression. It was a lonely existence for a child with no limbs, being different made it hard to make friends.  The harsh bullying resulted in Nick at the age of 10, attempting death by suicide. Nick felt he could not take anymore of the abuse of the bullies. He no longer wanted to be a burden to his parents. As he attempted to drown himself, an image and thought came into his mind. The image was of his parents and brother visiting him at his grave.

Nick was interrupted by the thought that the only thing worse for his parents to endure besides a child with no limbs was a child with no limbs “who gave up.” It was a life altering moment in which Nick Vujcic was reminded of his parents love. Nick heard the reminders from his parents, “Nick, you are perfect the way you are. Nick, you are beautiful the way you are. Nick, you are special. Nick, you are loved.”

It was this hope that brought Nick out of his dark depression and gave light and joy to his life.

Thinking about Nick’s story and the love of God present in his parents words and actions, I read the line of St. Francis’ prayer, where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

The hope, light, and love sowed into his life from his parents have been an incredible message for many people around the world. Nick has become a much in demand speaker because of his message of hope, a message that echoes his parents words to him, “you are perfect the way you are. You are beautiful the way you are. You are special. You are loved.”

 

Nick Vujcic’s story causes me to do some real soul searching, maybe it does you too.

I think about my life, and wonder about the seeds I am sowing into others lives each day.

This triggered these questions that I asked myself and now I ask you.

Is there hope you need to sow into someone today?

Is there a light you need to share with someone who is a dark lonely place?

Is there joy you need to share with those around you?

In other words:

What is the Spirit saying to you today? 

Where is He leading you to?

Scripture and the Prayer of St Francis call us, and challenge us to sow hope amidst despair, light in the darkness, and joy where there is sadness.

You are here for a reason and purpose. You matter. You are loved. You are special.

 

Romans 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

HERE IS A CLIP with

A LITTLE EXAMPLE OF

Nick Vujcic's message