THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

One morning, about 3 am, I got up to let our pup out. I didn’t want to wake anyone, so I didn’t turn on a single light. I hit my toe on the corner of the couch when I rounded the corner into the living room. Later that morning I had a visit with Dr. Vasandani. With rheumatoid arthritis, their protocol is to check your hands and feet each visit. There was no hiding my stupidity. When he saw the purple around that toe, I had to explain what had happened. He asked, “Will you get on a medication to strengthen those bones?” “No,” I replied, “I’ll just turn the light on.” He ordered extra tests that day that could have been avoided if I had just done what I was supposed to…turn on the light. That small decision cost me the unnecessary pain of a broken toe, extra time at his office, and embarrassment of explaining a stupid decision. I knew where the light switch was, I just chose not to use it.

**In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

In life, I also know where the true light switch is! He lives in my heart, He lives in the Word, and He lives in other people around me. We are literally surrounded by God’s glory, His love, and His mercy. Why in the world would I not try to share His light with others in my sphere of influence??

**“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Luke 8:16

The last couple of weeks have definitely been darker days than I am accustomed to, not only in America, but our entire world. I am uncertain when I wake up as to what the day will hold. I cannot control what goes on around me, but I can control what goes on in my heart and comes out of my my mouth and my expressions. I can choose to speak doom and gloom or I can choose to speak words of life and light.

I’ve had to start limiting my time on Facebook and exposure to the news. The more I scrolled, the dimmer the candle inside me burned. The headlines are huge, the infected cases continue to rise, and the world continues to tilt.

**“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

In the meantime, there are still people trying to keep their lights shining in this time of darkness. While writing this devo, I got a poem from a friend with a picture of her dog: “For this moment, my dog is in my lap, coffee in my cup, houseshoes on my feet propped up.” Some have started online games to post pictures or ask others to answer random questions to get people’s minds off this epidemic. One friend shares a picture of her pup, Teddy, as a “daily dose of cuteness.” Others post scriptures, encouraging news articles, or send pictures of their children’s “animal hunt.” People, young and old, are placing bears or other stuffed animals in windows to offer children something fun to do while staying home. Another friend lives on a crowded street in Lubbock. She has offered her driveway to the neighborhood children to mark up with sidewalk chalk if they need room to expand their artwork.

Smiles are also contagious and provide much needed light into a world of darkness. The best part of a smile is that we have unlimited supply, and they cost us nothing. When someone smiles at me, my body’s automatic reaction is to smile back. Why? Because God made us that way to shine forth our light. With Sierra working at Sonic, she has some stories to tell. Almost every day, there is some version of a customer that starts out grumpy. Because Sierra will not relent to that and continues to smile and be pleasant, many drive away with a better attitude than when they pulled in. Smiling and laughing are contagious, and very welcome additions to what we are facing in the days to come.

High school seniors at Sudan have a tradition of lining up on the floor of the gym during the senior pep rally and holding a candle. All the lights are turned out, and a few candles are lit. Those seniors share their flames with the person next to them and so on until everyone has a candle on fire. Even when all the lights are out in that huge gym, the audience can still see their faces clearly because of the light of the tiny candles.

**Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Philippians 2:14-16

Difficult. Command. Period. I have SO MUCH trouble with this verse. Grumbling and complaining come naturally to me and keeping my thoughts to myself does not. This morning, God showed me that when I grumble and complain to others, I blow their candle out instead of sharing my flame. This is something I have worked on off and on for years. I still don’t have a handle on it and will have to continue to work on it. I also need to guard my candle. If my flame is extinguished, I cannot share it with others.

LORD, thank You for creating me with a light inside and desire to burn bright. Thank You that others around me are finding ways to share their flame. If I, as a Christian, cannot be a light to the world, who can? I know You will get me through this. I know You will work the tragedies of this world for Your good. But sometimes being a light on display is hard when we just want to hide. Give me what I need each day to burn and shine for your glory. Allow me to share my light and be an extension of Your love in this world that has been thrown into utter darkness. Remind me, LORD, that I can either share my flame or extinguish those flames around me. Thank you, LORD, for those around me who share their flames and shine their lights. Thank You for this beautiful day I woke up to. Be with our leaders and all of those people who are continuing to work through this crisis. If their flames get tired and weary, send us to minister to them and give them strength. Be with those and their families who have been affected by the coronavirus. Heal their bodies, LORD, and give their families extra comfort. In Your precious name, Amen.

**The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. (Numbers 6:25)

**Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Psalm 43:3

**Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE