Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
As I sat on Katie’s bench dedicated to her at Hume Lake, I was overwhelmed with memories that came rushing in. So many now bring a smile to my face and peace to my soul. One memory unexpectedly overwhelmed me. I thought of her as that little girl in her school choir. She was dressed in a white gown with a red sash wrapped around her neck. These small innocent children standing on the altar at church, they all looked so sweet. Out of these small ones soon came the words, “This little light of mine, I’m going to make it shine; This little light of mine, I’m going to make it shine, going to shine , going to shine, going to shine.”
I felt a moment of sadness when I recalled this moment. Sociologists have stated that even the most introverted person can have an influence on thousands of people in their lifetime. Here I sat contemplating Katie’s life, a light being darkened so young, a future here on earth brought to a close. How many people could she have influenced in her life? As I sat there in my thoughts, it struck me. Katie is having an influence on people every day, especially me, her mother. People who knew her have been changed by her life and her death. People walk by her bench at Hume every day and I am sure they wonder about this young girl who has left this world so young.
Do you see your child’s light shining? When we take this loss and learn from it and reach out to help others, our child’s light is burning. They have not been darkened, but have an eternal flame burning stronger, through our love of them and through God’s strength in us.
Lord, this little light of ours is going to shine with Your strength and the love of our children.
