Riding bikes, climbing trees, swimming, and playing outside from dawn to dusk is what a childhood is all about. It always gave me a fabulous golden tan, as it does with most children.
However, as the years have gone by, it has become a lot harder to get a nice tan and a lot easier to get sunburned to a crisp!
My mother has always been a firm believer in sunscreen, and she would remind me regularly to put it on so I wouldn’t be begging for Aloe Vera lotion later. Who knew that I would one day be one of those rare people who end up having “photosensitivity.”
In layman’s terms, it’s like having an allergy to sun rays. Sometimes it is genetic, and sometimes it is due to an underlying autoimmune disease.
After just a short while in the sun, I will break out in little red spots and start to itch. So for someone who so loves the outdoors, I have to be vigilant about protecting my skin because I don’t plan on staying inside all of the time.
I’m not surprised that this happens, because the sun is such a powerful thing.
It's energy lights and warms an entire world.
The sun affects everything it touches, but affects more of what it’s closest to.
In that simple statement is a question for us to think about: "Are you close enough to God for him to affect you?"
Many people stand at a distance from the Lord, whether they realize it or not.
They are close enough to be labeled a Christian, close enough to know a scripture or two, and even close enough to remember to pray at meals and bedtime. That is the extent of their relationship with God.
Then there are those who stand so close to the Lord that you can see the effects of His presence on them.
They have a radiance about them that is reflected in their kind smile, gentle spirit, and caring attitude. They are so close to the SON that it shows.
In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and a multitude of people. When he was done, he said unto them, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matt. 5:14)
Why would he say that?
Simply this: What affects you has the potential to affect others. When you have stood so close to Jesus that His mere presence has caused a change in you, then those who come in contact with you have the opportunity to experience that change as well.
We aren’t to hide or cover up the effect that Christ has had on our lives. We are supposed to let it shine bright!
You can certainly tell when I have been in the sun for a long time. I pray that others will be able to look at me and say the same thing concerning my relationship with Jesus.
“She must have been around the SON too long!” My answer will be, "YES I HAVE!"
-- Dawn Hayes is mother of 4, grandmother to 3 and she and her husband pastor at New Hope Assembly of God in Senatobia. She has been writing “Sips from the Well” since 2015.
