This little light of mine
It was an unspoken rule or pattern in our household that Daddy did school drop off and I did after school pick up. It wasn’t intentional, it just began as the schedule allowed one morning and remained that way for the rest of their time in school. And every day, since our children were very little, my husband would share this parting greeting: “have a great day, and shine your light to someone today!” It became his mantra to them, something that started to extend beyond school drop off into any time they left his presence. On the way to school? Shine your light. On the way to swimming lessons? Shine your light. On the way to a sleepover? Shine your light. On the way to Guatemala on a mission trip? Shine your light. On the way to college? Shine your light. When they were little, I believe that the acknowledgment of their own lights was less intentional and more natural, but that’s what makes it so beautiful. They didn’t really know what he meant, beyond the command to “be kind and loving” to those they encountered, but they were always shining their light just the same.
“Little children, let us not love in word and speech, but in action and truth.” 1 John 3:18
Every year, beginning in Kindergarten, parents are asked to purchase a list of school supplies for their child’s classroom. And every year I dreaded it. I would complain incessantly about the cost and inconvenience of the trip to the grocery store to procure what seemed like an endless list of items that–in my mind–should already be fully stocked by the tax payment I made every year to the school system. And what about that “$7.50 school fee” I paid every year, where does that money go if not to classroom supplies? In spite of my procrastinating and not-so-happy-heart attitude, I always came through with the shopping trip. I begrudgingly packed the bags into the building the first day of school and promised to be a more cheerful giver the next year. Without fail, my promise was called upon mid year when additional items needed to be purchased for restock. Go figure. So, when Katherine came home from Kindergarten one day, asking me to buy yet another set of crayons I nearly exploded in disdain. Without a bit of curiosity, I began berating my child about how we are to “take better care of our things” and if she was using the crayons so violently, then maybe we needed to have a lesson in coloring more gracefully. With those big blue eyes, she looked up at me sorrowfully and said, “Mommy, they’re not for me, they’re for Adalyn*!” Still not hearing her servant heart, I spouted back, “well, what is Adalyn* doing with her crayons that she needs more this soon into the school year?”
I should have recognized the light when she showed it to me, but I didn’t. The 5-year-old had to spell it out for me in the only way she knew how: in action and truth. “Mommy, Mrs. Dorn gave Adalyn* crayons to take home, but she has a brother at home that’s not very nice and he broke all of her crayons. I gave her mine so now I need another set.” Her generosity stunned me silent and I immediately asked for forgiveness for my obstinate response. Children are the purest form of God’s light and when we empower them to shine His love upon others, they do it without any fear or pretense.
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, urging them to prepare their gifts with happy hearts, not out of obligation or compulsion, but because they had decided in their heart to give and give generously. Like Kindergarten children do, offer what you have without regard for how you might be rewarded. And the best part? You will be rewarded above and beyond what you gave. Not because you deserve it, or for restitution of what you gave, but because you were obedient in thanksgiving to God by giving it to others. In verse 12, he says, “for the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” By giving to others, you are showing gratitude to the Lord. Your expression of gratitude and generosity will glorify His name to others so they will know. Of His love, His grace and His generosity.
It’s the biblical equivalent to “paying it forward,” which–it must be said–is just a secular way to describe what it is to witness and shine your light.
Why does it seem so easy for a child to give so generously and so hard for us adults? They set a pretty simple example for us and yet we struggle. For some, it’s the sin of selfishness. These riches are mine; I earned them and I’m keeping them. They make me feel comfortable, stable, accomplished. For others, it’s a feeling of inadequacy. What we have isn’t good enough, generous enough. Or maybe we think we’re not worthy of the witness itself. No matter the offering, it’s the giver's faith that is insufficient, not his/her gift. We think that because we got a divorce, lied to our parents, gossiped about our boss or can’t remember the words to a single bible verse that we don’t have what it takes to be a good witness or gift giver. We are wrong. I propose that our own individual sin and rebellion is what makes us exactly qualified to testify of the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ and what the acknowledgement and acceptance of His love can do for our life.
I wanted to invite my two children into the conversation today to share about the little light of theirs that was nurtured by their Dad and how a propensity to give away their school supplies to a classmate blossomed into a heart for sharing His love around the world. Both of my girls have traveled in and outside of the United States to share the love of Christ with people who may not know what that feels like. I’m super proud of them, but really more envious and awestruck by their courage and conviction; it far exceeds their mother’s. I asked them each to share a memory from their time on mission and express what that experience has meant to them.
Katherine harkens again, a memory of her Daddy and his influence on her mission life. She immediately emotes about a girls’ home located in Mixco, Guatamala called Prince of Peace where, “at the age of 6, I can remember my dad used to visit; he would leave for almost 2 weeks at a time and Skype us while he was away. We used to receive letters from some of the girls he’d be there sharing Jesus with and it would be the highlight of my week and a reason to be grateful in his absence. I dreamed of one day getting to visit the place that held such a special place in my dad’s heart.”
“At the age of 16, the Lord opened the door for my sister and I both to go alongside my Dad to Prince of Peace. It was a life changing trip for me. You go in expecting to give your love and attention, your energy and time, by creating a fun and joyful week-long experience in these girls’ daily lives. But while being a vessel the Lord used to love on them, the grace and acceptance they bestowed upon me completely transformed my life forever.”
It was in July of 2023 that I had another opportunity to go to Prince of Peace, and it was on that trip that I met the Holy Spirit in a way that left me certain that mission work would be a permanent part of my life. And as the Lord would have it, I met my future husband there as well.”
When Katherine returned from Guatemala that summer, she had cultivated several new relationships, this time as a young adult woman colliding with the lives of other young adult women seeking Christ and an abundant life like her, but hours and oceans of opportunity away from Richmond, Kentucky. She came home with a renewed passion to do what she could, with the talents she possessed, to enrich the lives of the sweet senoritas she now calls her “friends.”
“I started praying over and having conversations with the Director of the home about opportunities where I could be further invested in the home and its success on mission. Something I couldn’t shake was a calling to pour into Prince of Peace further. And in July of 2025 I had the opportunity to start running the social media. Days and months have passed and every time I draft a post for the orphanage, I am reminded that sharing the testimony of these girls is showing the world how much we all need the love of Jesus.
“I don’t know exactly what God has called upon my life and my husband’s life in the mission field, but through going to POP and being present with the Lord I’ve learned that all I have to do is simply just say yes to him and what he has placed on my heart and step into that with full faith His plan will prevail every single time. God didn’t just reveal to me at Prince of Peace his calling upon my life but the gift of mission work he gave my husband and I together. And for that I’m truly grateful daily.
A faithful response to the unknown is something my girls share as it relates to their individual callings. When I asked Natalie to reflect on her European summer mission experience so far, the consistent tenor of her reflection is overcoming the inevitable trepidation that comes with saying “yes” to the Lord.
“Since being across the country, in a new place, with all new people, I've experienced what it looks like to say, “yes Lord, i’ll follow you”. It's quite scary to say yes to something you have no prior experience with. Go places and do things you’ve never done before. I’ve been re-reading the book of Matthew and I keep reading stories where Jesus asks someone to follow him. In each story the person has immediately said “yes Lord”. The amount of faith and obedience it takes to say yes blindly to something is immense. Its the kind of faith that only God could muster up. The kind of faith that we do not have on our own, but through Christ alone.
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20
“Saying “yes Lord’ for me on this adventure so far has looked like:
Praying for seemingly small things because Jesus does care.
Going up to someone new and soon after having a lovely new friend.
Whipping out my guitar to sing in front of people just because, which then turns into a Jesus jam sesh with amazing people I met but a few days before.
Staying up late, pouring out vulnerability with people who quickly become like family.
Playing silly games at youth events with lots of students who may be learning about God’s love for the first time.
Being obedient to what feels like a “calling” on my heart has turned out to be simply sharing why I’ve traveled across the country, and sharing with these new people who Jesus is to me, in hopes that they will get to know Him too.
It's so funny to me as a follower of Jesus, the constant curiosity of what my calling is, because he blatantly tells me in scripture the answer to that.”
“Therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19
“He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Natalie finds it funny and I find it fundamental. God’s calling on our lives is simple and we’re the ones that make it so complicated. I’m not saying our God doesn’t do great big things—he does. I just think it starts when we are obedient in doing the little things. Our church says it in a slogan but it all comes from scripture: love God and love His people. That’s it. And though I am extremely proud of my girls and their obedience to travel far and wide to do that, to share the love of Jesus, I am equally proud of the way they do that exact same thing in their everyday lives. Crayons and beyond.
I heard a character in a movie yesterday say, “nobody tells us to dream small,” and that hit me in my core. We’re told that there’s one way to dream and that’s BIG. I get flack from my children because I have never allowed that notion to be a priority in my life. I’m rather comfortable dreaming small. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid or maybe it’s because I lack faith. Or maybe it’s because I wholeheartedly believe in the big impact of little dreams and what a big God like ours can do with them. You don’t have to go to Guatemala or Europe or any further than the doorways and dwellings you walk through every day to share who Jesus is, to you and to the world. The opportunities are closer and more often than you think. It’s in His word and in the words of my girls’ beloved Daddy: shine your light. Wherever you go. Because that’s BIG.
