My Christmas Amaryllis bloomed magnificently this year!  Two full stalks reached up and produced two beautiful pink blooms.

This was my first time to raise an amaryllis – I received a pot covered in moss and was told to put it near light and water it.  Soon there were leaves and then two strong, straight stalks grew quite tall.  Before I knew it my kitchen window was graced with first one and then another flower.  Each stalk boasted four blooms.  When they were at their peak of perfection I took them from the window and put them on my kitchen island so that we could more fully enjoy them.

I left for vacation as the blooms were fading and I was glad to have had them to brighten my home.  However as I was packing up I noticed yet another stalk beginning to grow.  I was excited to know that when I returned home I might have another flower to enjoy.

What did I forget?  I forgot to put my amaryllis back by the kitchen window.  What a surprise to come home and find that another stalk had indeed grown – but Yikes!  It was growing at a ninety-degree angle!  Like its predecessors it was growing strong and straight, but it was growing at a 90-degree angle! It was reaching for the light!  I am sorry that I did not take a picture of this because it was so unique.  Of course I couldn’t leave it growing straight across my island, nor would it fit properly by my window.

The end of the story is that I cut the stalk and let it bloom at the window in a cup of water.  It was still beautiful.  The point of the story is how impressed I was at the determination of this flower to reach the light.  I thought about this for several weeks.  Like the flower I have a natural, inborn desire to seek for light.  Though I am not as determined as my amaryllis, I do make a daily effort to incline my life toward LIGHT!  I am so grateful that I know where and how to find it.  I am sad to know that there are far too many people who live in darkness without knowing that Light is even available.  Or they have forgotten, or they think they aren’t good enough.

I have Light in my life every day as I seek for it.  My Savior lived and died so that I could have I could live in His light.  He said, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  (John 8:12)   In First John we are taught that, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

How do I lean toward that light?  I begin and end my day with prayer and try to keep a prayer of gratitude always in my heart throughout my day.  I read from the scriptures.  I try to have a good attitude.  I try to be nice.  I exercise.  I work.  I serve my family.  I choose good friends. I look for the good in situations.  I try to remember to smile more often.  I often fail but I know that I can try again.  Light will always win out over darkness.  I know that it takes effort to seek the light.  I also know that seeking Light is ALWAYS worth that effort!!!  Even the smallest effort to increase the light in our lives just a bit is ALWAYS worth it!  If you don’t have that spark I hope that I can share mine!  It is ALWAYS worth it!!  And like the amaryllis, we can stand straight, we can be strong, we can be beautiful and we can bring that beauty to others when we have light in our lives.