The Lantern Heart

A few years ago, I faced adversity and found myself struggling with the weight of negative emotions. Even with all the blessings in my life, I still felt an unsettling sense of incompleteness. That year was filled with emotional challenges… I also witnessed unkindness in toxic communities, saw people silently battling depression, anxiety, terminal illnesses, and discrimination. Some had suffered so much that they lost hope entirely, and I even knew those who tragically took their own lives.

The world around me felt heavy with pain and division, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to do something about it. But who was I—just one small person in this vast world—to make a difference? The only thing I knew I could do was pray.

Then, one day, I stumbled upon Matthew 5:14.

God called me to be a light, and I choose to shine in my own small way—starting with myself. I know I can’t put on a cape and save the world, but I believe even the smallest acts of kindness and positivity can make a difference. That’s why I created this blog—to share light and encouragement, one post at a time. It’s a start, for sure…

I’ve been going back and forth on whether to start this blog. Then, out of the blue, while having breakfast with my family at a local IHOP, a man sat across from me wearing a sweater that caught my attention:

It sure was a sign!

It may not seem grand, but if just one person finds comfort here, then it’s worth it. I hope those who visit will feel a little less alone and a little more uplifted. May I bring light to those I encounter, and may you stumble upon a LANTERN HEART that illuminates your path so you no longer have to wander in the dark like I once did…