You Were Born to Sparkle

(Yes, Even Now)

The other day, as I was wandering through Walmart, a little sparkly hat caught my eye. It was red, white, and blue which means it was clearly made for summer fun, but what grabbed my heart were the words stitched across the front: “You were born to sparkle.” Without thinking twice, I tossed it into my cart for my three-year-old granddaughter who loves all things sparkly.

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When I gave it to her, she lit up. She put it on, twirled like a princess, and sparkled with every ounce of her being. Watching her, I teared up. It wasn't just because she is adorable (though she absolutely is) but because something about that phrase hit me hard: She truly believes she was born to sparkle.

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When did we stop believing that about ourselves?

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As Catholic women in business, we’re used to being strong. We hustle. We manage the meetings, the projects, the clients while still trying to be present for our families, our parishes, and our friends. But somewhere along the way, many of us stopped sparkling. The joy, the confidence, the creativity God gave us got buried under expectations, exhaustion, comparison, and life’s unexpected turns. Transitions happen and suddenly we're not sure where we fit or what we’re supposed to be doing anymore.

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But here’s what I want you to hear loud and clear: You were born to sparkle. And not in the influencer, Instagram-perfect way—but in a holy, radiant, deeply powerful way that reflects the light of Christ. In a divine way!

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Jesus didn’t say, “You used to be the light,” or “You’ll shine once you figure everything out.” He said in Matthew 5, “You are the light of the world.” Present tense. Right now. Even if you're in the middle of a career pivot, feeling stuck in your business, grieving a loss, or battling burnout—your light still matters. The trust is that light shines the brightest in the darkness.

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I know many of us are walking through hard seasons or difficult times. I am too. But I've been thinking about the women, especially the saints, who truly sparkled in their most difficult moments. Saint Monica didn’t sparkle because life was easy. She sparkled because she persevered in prayer for her family, even when nothing seemed to change. Saint Rita? Her sparkle was born through deep suffering and heartbreak, and yet she became a woman of powerful intercession and peace. And then there’s Saint Hildegard, who didn’t even step into her full calling until she was in her forties. She went on to preach, write, compose music, and become a spiritual powerhouse.

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So, if you’re sitting at your desk wondering, “Is it too late?” or “Does what I do even matter anymore?” Let me lovingly remind you that it’s not too late. You were born to sparkle, and some of your most radiant days, months, and years are still ahead of you.

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Sparkling as a Catholic woman in business isn’t about titles or achievements. It’s about living with purpose, however that looks in your current season. Maybe it’s launching a new project or ministry. Maybe it’s slowing down to mentor someone else. Maybe it’s resting and letting God restore you. Either way, your sparkle is found not in doing more, but in letting Christ shine through your real, messy, authentic self.

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So here are a few simple ways to reclaim that divine sparkle:

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• Stay rooted in the Word. Scripture buffs out the lies we believe and brings back our shine.
   

• Be authentically you. Take off the mask. The world—and your clients—need your realness.
   

• Choose joy, even when it’s hard. Not fake joy, but the deep confidence that God is still at work.
   

• Say yes to the next thing God is calling you to, even if it’s scary. He will equip you.
   

Friend, it’s not over. You’re not behind. And the sparkle God placed in you? It’s still there. So go out this week and let it shine—on Zoom calls, in coffee meetings, at your kid’s baseball game, or over dinner with friends. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present. Because when you show up as the woman God created you to be—faithful, joyful, and a little bit messy—you reflect Christ in the most beautiful way. To learn more about how to sparkle listen to this week’s show on Catholic Moms in the Middle as Jennie shares more about sparkling in ALL seasons of life. Click here to listen.

✨ You were born to sparkle. Don’t forget it. ✨

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Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, podcaster, and radio show host who walks with women facing life’s unexpected turns. She helps them encounter the Father’s love, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and find healing from pain and disappointment so they can magnify Christ with their lives. Through faith-filled coaching and heartfelt conversations, Jennie empowers women to rediscover hope and to live life with purpose and joy.

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