This Little Light of Mine
Shannon King, Charity Director
Ole Foundation is dedicated to changing the world one life at a time. So often people say or think that they will begin to tithe, give to the poor, or volunteer when they have more time or when they are financially free. Too often life comes and goes while you are waiting for a moment that never arrives. The time to act is now.
Each one of us has our needs. We are all praying and asking God for help in our life somewhere. Have you ever stopped and thought about how those prayers get answered? God moves through us to answer the call. We are the ones who deliver the answer.
When you feel that tug at your heart, that urging in your stomach to act, that is God calling you to action. To be of service to God and your community today doesn’t have to mean getting your checkbook out. It can simply mean following that urge to smile and wave at someone who looks sad. It may be the moment when you are talking to a friend and they have had a rough day. You feel like they need a hug but you aren’t comfortable with the thought so you get away as soon as possible. Stop and give them that hug instead. You don’t know how badly they might need that act of kindness. I’ve driven past people holding signs asking for money and kept driving. There have also been times that I drove past and felt the need to turn around, so I did. You can’t hear their prayers but God does and he does answer them through us. Those moments that you stop to be a friend or to minister to someone else are moments of true blessing to yourself.
When you allow God’s love to flow through you it not only answers the prayers of that other person but blesses you too. Those moments when I follow the call within my heart to ask if someone is ok or when I hug that person I feel needs it, when I say yes to helping even if I felt it but would rather do something else, those are the best moments. Those are the moments that I walk away from with my heart full, a smile on my face and I’m giving thanks for telling me to stop. Being of service big or small are the moments that can really make life feel like it matters, like your time here matters.
Do you remember the song we use to sing in Sunday School? This is condensed but it goes something like,
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Oh, this little light of mine, I’m
going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, all the time, let it shine!
All around the neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine…
Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine…
Don’t let Satan [blow] it out! I’m going to let it shine…
So I urge you today, let your light shine. Someone else is having a dark moment and they are asking for God to shine his light into their life. They may be asking God for a sign, a sign of kindness, a sign that things are going to be ok, a sign that God heard them, a sign that their life matters… If we all stop hiding our light under a bushel and let that little light shine until it burns into a bon fire we will wipe out the darkness. Don’t let those dark and doubtful whispers of Satan keep you from reaching out. Don’t let him blow out your light. Be that light for someone today, just one life at a time. I promise that it will light up your own life too.
Isiah 58:10
Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
This little light of mine, I’m going to let SHINE!
