Shame or Shine

By: Nancy Abiera

 

Shame grows in secrecy and silence hiding in darkness.
“We are all meant to shine, as children do… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” — Marianne Williamson
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. “ Matthew 5:14-16
“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” Proverbs 18:4
Unfortunately, many people live autopilot in shame not knowing fully how this greatly affects how we live and relate with other people.
As Jesus said earlier that we have choices. We can choose to respond by either feeling shamed hiding in darkness or shine reflecting His light.
In other words, we have two options:
We either choose SHAME by
S. Shifting blaming others
H. Haughtily humiliate
A. Anxious & Angry
M. Miserable and
E. Engage continuously in toxicity

Whereas SHINE shows
S. Support
H. Humbly
I. Inviting
N. New kindness
E. Encouraging and offering compassion with a positive and truthful approach.
Shaming attacks a person’s core identity, making them feel worthless or broken rather than guiding them to fix a behavior.
It is like saying “You are wrong vs You did something wrong”.
People who are shamed-based often feel angry, anxious, or defensive, thereby leading to resentment rather than real personal growth.
Moreover, shaming teaches people to hide their flaws and mistakes out of fear, stopping true learning either privately or publicly thereby keeping them stuck.
On the other hand, when we choose to shine, it results in powerful ways. Shining a light with loving care, empathy and kindness helps people process difficult feelings and move past shame.
Shame can be deceiving as it hides under pretense in the name of rebellion leading to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
On the contrary, obedience to God is very hopeful and powerful making even the impossible possible.
“I know the power obedience has of making things easy which seem impossible.” St. Teresa of Avila:
This kind of attitude encourages honesty and even leads to growth. In supportive environment, it lets people own up to mistakes and take responsibility without fear of cruel judgment.
This also leads to open communication and positive reinforcement; thereby building trust and long-lasting, healthy behavior changes which impacts positively and greatly how we relate to one another.
“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”. John Crowley
The choice is yours!
• Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for putting the light of Jesus Christ inside my heart. Help me to show your love and truth through my words and my actions every day. Please remove any fear or doubt that makes me want to hide your light. Shine through me so that others can see your goodness and feel your peace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Always “Choose On A Bright Side”.
I love you readers with the love of the Lord yet the Lord loves you the most.
Smile and be a blessing!