This Little Light of Mine

There is a memory that has been playing in my mind over the last few weeks.
In my memory, I am taken to a 6 year old me. It is one of my favourite memories… I am in the front row of my family church community hall, where we held our Sunday school classes. Always being one of the shortest kids (that hasn’t changed much!), I often found myself in the front row. I am reminded of a song that gave me so much delight then and still does now … ‘This little light of mine , I’m gonna let it shine , let it shine, let it shine , let it shine…’ !
In my minds eye…I can see my six year old self finding such unadulterated joy in singing that song.

This memory has stayed with me over the years, but has been particularly present the last while. So I have given this some thought and this is what I have found.
Thinking back to that moment in my life, I realize that I was so blessed to have grown up in the security of a family that reminded me of God’s love. I am also reminded that six year old me had a better sense of who I am as a person. I realize that as we grow older and we are exposed to life’s cynicism and the disappointments that chip away at our sense of self and our ability to experience pure joy… just real joy, suspending self judgment or those of others.
I have also given some thought to the song that has remained a favourite of mine… ‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…let it shine, let it shine, let it shine’. This song resonates with my soul because it echoes that which I try to live by.
Our light or spirit is something I believe too often we forget to nurture. We allow others to over-shadow our light with criticism, doubt and negativity. But worst of all is that we deny ourselves to shine by not listening to what it is that makes us happy. The joy I remember as a child is the light that radiates and manifests itself in joy, energy, courage and love.
So today I choose to let my light shine. I am choosing not to allow others’ shadows to dampen my light. I believe that my light is ignited by being kind to myself. If we truly embrace who we are and respond with kindness to ourselves… and I am not only referring to acts of self-kindness in the form of candlelit bubble-baths, indulging in expensive chocolates or spoiling ourselves with (another) pair of shoes – although these don’t hurt :) … I am talking about being kind to who you are, really taking time to listen to your heart, to embrace yourself and heal the wounds that life has inflicted.

This memory has made me smile. I realize that in some ways six year old Dale knew a lot more than I do now. So, I have found my angel … he has reminded me that I am loved , that I can experience (real) joy …joy that is not found externally , but joy that is experienced when I let go of what others might think of me singing ‘This little light’ at the top of my lungs. He has reminded me that I have this light and that my life- if I want a life worth living – depends on this light. My angel is me. I am grateful to my six year old self for reminding me.
And so , whenever I am feeling a little shadow hanging over me and my light flickering … I start to hum ‘This little light of mine…’ and before I know it, I am singing to remind myself of my light and when there is light in my life anything seems possible.