Rain or shine, there is nothing as sweet as a family day. Adventure, fresh air, and no static distraction from electronics, with the exception of camera’s of course.
On the salty shoreline, in the post-rain breeze, with my five favorite smiles strolling alongside me, I admired the concept of a lighthouse. Not only is it a permanent structure meant to give peace and guidance to ships in the night, but lighthouses were full-time, exhausting commitments.
A lighthouse keeper gave up his/her entire life to pour all their energy into keeping this single structure running for the sake of sailors they had never met. Little social life, long nights, tiring climbs, relentless weather, and still one must keep attention to detail in order to maintain and protect a lighthouse.
If you’ve read my blog for any period of time, you know I’m extremely fond of metaphors and analogies. So who does the lighthouse keeper represent?
Well, parents are awake for many long nights, endure tiring days on the heels of their children, social lives often revolve around kids, and despite life’s relentless storms, they must keep careful attention to detail in order to raise and protect a child.
My parents have spent their lives building into me, making me stronger, and protecting me so that I may serve as a light of Christ to people they may never meet. I am a lighthouse that does not stand alone, but stands because of the lighthouse keepers who fueled and sustained me.
Every lighthouse has a keeper who deserves a vast amount of thanks.
Thank you to my lighthouse keepers. I love you beyond words any blog post could possibly contain and am so grateful for your sacrifices in raising, training, sustaining, and protecting me. You’ve ignited a light in me an kept it burning through many storms. You have been the greatest and most hardworking lighthouse keepers. I love you!
5.31.2016
Alibrandi Dawn 
Such a beautiful metaphor and praise! Pictures are beautiful! You definitely have the light of The Lord in you. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
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Allie, Your parents heart must be so full. The tribute to them on this weekend of your Mother’s birthday, and your wisdom to know already that you were one of the few, lucky ones, very few, to have parents as you have.
The analogy is magnificent as well as the photos. Your Mom told me this morning it was one of the best birthdays she could remember.
I also saw your note that you made the Dean’s list again. Great job. I know school is hard and tiring and grueling but yet you put your all into it like everything you do and it pays off. Really proud of that accomplishment too.
I’m so happy those are the 5 smiles that make you the happiest. You have already figured out what many never figure out until they are too old and everyone is gone they should have thanked.
Bless you. Love You. Grandma Paula
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I love that you get it. I wasn’t sure that anyone truly did. It has never been about the lighthouse itself. My fascination with lighthouses has always been about the lighthouse keeper. The sacrifice, the dedication, the pain, the sleepless nights, the storms endured, the loneliness, the fear of failure all to keep a light burning because it MIGHT save the life of someone in a storm out at sea that you may never meet, never receive thanks, never even know if it mattered. I love to hear their stories. When I climb, I imagine their lives and the thousands upon thousands of times they climbed those steep spiral steps to keep the light burning. The fact that they couldn’t quit, couldn’t turn back, couldn’t sleep in. The light had to shine in the darkness. “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. No turning back.”
John 1:4-5 “In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Thank you for shining your light into the world and for showing me I already have my dream of being a lighthouse keeper.
I love you more than you can imagine.
Mathew 5:14-16
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❤️
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