By Joseph J. Mazzella

It was the end of the longest day of the year. I had worked all day long and was now just looking forward to a good night’s sleep.

The sky was just beginning to get dark, the clouds had cleared, and the moon was hanging like a sliver sickle in the sky. I leashed up my dog for his last walk of the day and opened my back door. He bounded out and dragged me behind him and then suddenly, he stopped cold. I stepped off the deck and saw what had caught his attention. The fireflies also known as lightening bugs had returned to my backyard. Hundreds of them were blinking their lights in and off and the meadow behind my home was alive with their light. I stopped mesmerized by this yearly miracle. It was such a glorious sight. Their light filled me with energy and made my own smile shine. They reminded me again of just how wonderful this world is. They reminded me again of just how much god must love us all to give us such beauty to delight in. I walked around in peaceful contentment until my dog finally finished his business and dragged me back to my home. I think sometimes we all must feel like a lone firefly shining our light and hoping that it is making the earth a tiny bit brighter. What we forget is that when we add our little light to the light of others we can illuminate this entire world. God wants us to love. God wants us to shine. God wants us to be his light in this world. It is up to us, though, to make our souls and lives sparkle with light and love. Put your light on then, every chance you get. Every smile you share, every kind act you do, every encouraging word you say, every laugh you laugh and song you sing adds a little more like heaven. Every bit of love that you give brightens your soul and gods smile.