This Little Light of Mine

When I was a little girl we used to sing this song in Sunday School. “This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine,I’m gonna let it shine, every day, every where, I’m gonna let my light shine.

I woke up with that song ringing in my head this morning for some reason. Singing itself. Ever have that happen to you? A song that won’t shut up? One that makes its presence known before you even have a hand on the coffee pot?

So I said to the song in my head, “What do you want?”

And it told me. ( This is the part where you can tell me I’m crazy.) It wanted me to share a song with you.

There is this video so upbeat, so inspiring, so fun that I DARE you to listen to it and not smile. I dare you to walk away not feeling like you want to shine your own light like a bright fireball lighting up the sky. Go. Take a second…click on the video…listen while you read, or better yet watch the lit up smiling faces of these amazing kids and then come back.

Shining like a Fireball or Hiding Your Light?

There was this other song we used to sing about hiding our light under a bushel basket. That one didn’t pop into my head this morning (thank you very much song) so you don’t have to listen to that one too. However, I do remember the point of it. In one song we were shining our light so bright that all the world could see, every day, in every way. In the other song, we were hiding our light from the world, not sharing it until our light dimmed under the bushel basket and went out. One was an upbeat happy song. The other made me feel like a useless blight on society. But maybe that was just me. I was a pretty sensitive kid. There was no way I wanted to hide my little light after that depressing song. I wanted mine to shine, shine, shine.

But sometimes even with the best of intentions our light dims. Sometimes we want nothing more then to crawl back under our bushel basket and hide our light and tell the world, ‘Don’t look at me- leave me the heck alone. Go get your own light and get away from my candle.”  We aren’t trying to be a big meenie,we  just can’t seem to help it.

Then we feel bad. We beat ourselves up over it. “Hey! Self! You were supposed to be a Shiny Light! What’s your problem! JERK!!! Nobody is going to like you now, might as well crawl in your cave and hide.”

Suddenly our dim light flickers out and we are left standing alone in the dark.

Hey Buddy, Do You Have a Light?

How do we get that light to shine again? How do we keep that light from fading in the first place? Do we have any control over the light or does it just appear and disappear like a gift from God above?

Keeping that flame shining bright takes commitment. Back in the days of our Cave People ancestors, they understood that the person who’s job it was to keep the flame of fire from never going out held the safety and life of the clan in their hands.  The flame meant survival. They respected it, they honored it. They kept an eye on it and cherished it, putting the welfare of the flame above all other things.

We need to do the same. We need to renew ourselves and keep our light strong to prevent the unwanted dimness that can happen when we aren’t paying attention.

What keeps your light bright? What keeps your flame going? Though it may change for some of us, many things are universal. Such as:

• Motivational music, video ( Go ahead, listen to the song again, you know you want to!)
• Motivational books, words
• Inspiring, upbeat friends
• Positive self-talk
• Healthy diet & nutrition
• Good Sleep
• Regular exercise and fresh air
• Fun hobbies, creative stimulation
• Helping others, making a difference
• Working toward a goal or Dream
• Living authentically
• Collaborating on a dream or fun project with a partner

Conversely, some activities will blow out your light faster then a tornado blowing through your house. How fast have some of these things thrown a bushel basket over your head?

• Harsh Criticism:From others or from your own self-talk
• Being over-tired
• Being over committed, spread too thin
• Agreeing to do things you had no heart interest in doing.
• Acting like a martyr
• Over-doing the junk food, drugs and alcohal
• Being false to your true spirit
• Being stuck in clutter, disorganization or confusion.
• Participating in gossip and negative attitudes, hanging out with negative people

Your turn. What are some of the things that hurt or help your Shiny Light?

Keeper of the Flame

It’s your little light. If you don’t watch out for it, it might go out. Or you can keep it lit and shining bright. Every day, every way…you have a choice.

Here, at Life’s Little Inspirations we are shining our own light together. We are daring this year to Live Inspired. Come take that dare with us and help us spread light everywhere we go! If you enjoy what you read, please subscribe and tell a friend!

Together we can we can let our light shine!