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To Shine and Rave
The quote here reminds us that we really do matter, and being our best gives glory to God.
by Keri Wyatt Kent

Topics:	Acceptance, Children, Communication, Empowerment, Encouragement, Family, Motivation
Filters:	Children's ministry, Children's pastor, Christian education, Family ministry, Nursery, Sunday school, Volunteer
References:	None
Date Added:	September 11, 2006

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"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
—Marianne Williamson, Return to Love

The quote above reminds us that we really do matter, and being our best gives glory to God.I first heard this when it was quoted in the wonderful film Akeelah and the Bee. If you didn't catch this movie a few months ago in theaters, it's now out in DVD.

Here's a great team building exercise: rent the movie, provide some hospitality to those you serve beside, and have them over to watch it with you.

It may not sound that fascinating—it's about, well, the national spelling bee. When I took my 12-year-old and her girlfriends to see it in the theater, they were like, "Mrs. Kent, we're seeing a movie about spelling? Umm, really?" But after the movie, all of us were raving about it.

It's actually a story about how your life can change when you believe in yourself, and when other people believe in you, too. It's about how a caring teacher can change a life—which I hope will inspire and encourage all of you. What you are doing really does matter, so let your light shine!

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