One of my boys favorite songs to sing these days is “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…” You know the children’s song I am talking about. (if not here it is http://youtu.be/ka2lGI2hJxU ) Well, they have it down pat with the little finger wave and all. Pretty cute if I say so. My boys are teaching me so much about so many things but an area I never expected them to teach me in was my walk with my Savior. It seems like there is something every day that they say or do that just speaks to me about our Heavenly Father. Today…..its the light.
Anyone that knows are family knows that our sweet 3 year old has been diagnosed this past year with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is an auto-immune disorder and it will follow him for the rest of his life (unless God chooses to heal him of course). It has been hard to watch such a sweet and small child go through the hospital stays, pokes and tests that he has endured over the last year. Today we had another appointment with his doctors and found that due to the fact the current medication is not controlling Ian’s inflammation levels we are going to have to begin him on weekly injections of a pretty invasive drug. I know it is what needs to be done, but it is just heart breaking. I realize that Ian doesn’t really know whats going on at this point with his health but today as my eyes are focused on the doctor instructing me on the laundry list of side effects and instructions I break to look down at Ian. He is just staring at me right in the face with the biggest, most sincere smile. It was as if he was just lighting up the room. I swear it was like he knew exactly what was going on and what was being said and he was looking straight into my soul saying, “It’s okay mommy. I know you love me. I’m still shining. I won’t let satan blow out my light. I’m okay.”
It was this amazing moment of peace that came over me. Am I scared and nervous? Of course. But just like the children’s song says, I can not “let satan blow my light out”. Nor can I “hide it under a bushel.” We are called to shine no matter what. We are called to walk in the light of Christ’s presence no matter how scary our circumstances might be.
Psalms 118:27
“The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us.”
Psalms 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?”
John 8:12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”
2 Corinthians 4:6
“For God, who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ made His light shine in our hearts”
Isaiah 2:5
“Come house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord”
Psalms 119:105
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”
Philippians 2:15
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky”
Ephesians 5:8
“For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
Psalms 89:14-15
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
Daniel 12:3
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Scattered so many times throughout scripture Jesus is instructing us to live each day in
the light of His glory. Why would we ever want to hide? Why do we so easily stray into the darkness of this world when things get tough? God didn’t change. Our circumstances did, but God’s light is right there shining brightly for us and yet so often we choose the darker shadows to sulk in. God doesn’t say to only shine when things are good or when you feel like it. He says to LIVE in HIS light all the time. That my sweet friends, is a choice we must wake up each day and make.
It is clear to me that our mission while here on earth is to use every resource entrusted to us and every circumstance we are faced with, to point to Jesus, to reflect His light, to point to His light and to shine full of His light!
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