Puddles of Sunshine 团团阳光
Dexu Xia
On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Matthew 4:16
It was a warm summer day and my four-year-old granddaughter Mollie and I were taking a break from playing ball. As we sat on the porch with our glasses of water, Mollie looked out at the yard and said, “Look at the puddles of sunshine.” The sunlight was filtering through the thick foliage to create a pattern of light amid the dark shadows.
Puddles of sunshine. Isn’t this a beautiful image for finding hope in dark days? In the midst of what can often be challenging times—when good news seems in short supply—instead of concentrating on the shadows, we can focus on the light.
The Light has a name—Jesus. Matthew quoted Isaiah to describe the brightness that came into the world when Jesus arrived: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16; see also Isaiah 9:2). The effects of sin are all around us as we live in the “land of the shadow of death.” But shining through that shadow is Jesus, the grand and glorious light of the world (John 1:4–5).
The sunshine of Jesus’ love and compassion breaks through the shadow—giving us “puddles of sunshine” to illuminate our day and brighten our hearts with hope.
What darkness is clouding your day? How can you allow the light of Jesus’ presence and love to bring you joy and hope?
Jesus, while we struggle through a world full of trouble, I need Your presence. I need Your uplifting love to take me out of the shadows and help me stand in the light of Your magnificence.
坐在死荫之地的人，有光发现照着他们。—马太福音4章16节
在一个温暖的夏日午后，我和四岁的孙女茉莉一起玩球，累了便暂停休息。当时我和茉莉拿着水杯坐在门廊上，茉莉看着外面的院子，对我说：“爷爷，你看地上有好多一团团的阳光！”原来，她看到阳光穿透茂密的树叶，在地面的阴暗之处形成了大大小小的光影。
一团团的阳光。这岂不是在黑暗的日子中寻找盼望的美好画面吗？置身在充满挑战的日子里，好像很难听到好消息，但与其专注在令人沮丧的黑暗，我们不如将焦点放在那一道美丽的光。
这一道光是有名字的，祂就是耶稣。马太引用以赛亚书9章2节，描述耶稣降临而照亮世界的大光：“那坐在黑暗里的百姓，看见了大光；坐在死荫之地的人，有光发现照着他们”（马太福音4章16节）。当我们住在“死荫之地”时，罪带来的影响会不断笼罩我们，但耶稣能穿透这片黑暗，祂就是这世界明亮又充满荣耀的光（约翰福音1章4-5节）。
耶稣的慈爱与怜悯正如阳光穿透黑暗，在黑暗的日子里给我们带来亮光，祂以盼望照亮我们的每一天，也照亮我们的心灵。
今天你被何种黑暗笼罩？你如何让耶稣的同在与慈爱
所发出的光带给你喜乐与盼望？
亲爱的耶稣，当我在这纷纷扰扰的世界中苦苦挣扎时，
求祢让我记得祢的同在。求祢的爱激励我，
带领我脱离黑暗，沐浴在祢荣耀的光明中。