A Little Book for Lucy the Light

A Little Book for Lucy the Light.

[this “little book” is in process of being written, so please don’t read until it is finished soon]

Lucy, this little book is specially for you, written and assembled by Grandma and Grandpa Larson. This is something we have done for each of our grandchildren. We have done five little books so far, one each for Mac and Becket, for Evie, Sadie and Leia. And now, Lucy, it’s your turn!

Walking into the Light. On August 17th of 2020 a baby girl was born. It was a dark time, a time of hardship and disease. It was a time of shutdowns and closed doors due to Coronavirus, the dreaded Covid Flu. Even hospitals had to be very careful. But this little girl brought light and joy. She was the firstborn to Corey and David Larson. And they named her Lucille Elizabeth. Lucille was David’s grandmother’s first name, and it means Light-Bearer. This famous Scandinavian name is tied to Santa Lucia stories and rings of candles lit in the pre-Christmas darkness. That beautiful little baby is now five years old. Her smile is still dazzling and bright for all to see. Her head tilts very cutely in most pictures, just like her great grandma Lucy. She listens and looks carefully at others, and often is pictured with her arm draped lovingly around whomever is closest to her. The world has more Light and Life and Joy because of Lucille Elizabeth Larson. (significance of her middle name?).

In our little books for our grandchildren, we usually include stories, pictures, the meaning of their names, and whatever inspires us about each special grandchild of ours. We make sure to mention Bible verses, and maybe even some promises (?) and advice that may be of help as you grow older.

Grandpa and Grandma love Scripture, Lucy, and so we want to make sure we include lots of Bible verses in your little book. Light is a big, big topic in God’s Word, so we wanted to tell you about some of our favorite passages about light. Here’s one right here:

“You are light in the Lord!” (Ephesians 5:8).

In your book, Lucy, we have included a list of songs that are all about Light, since that is what your name means. This songlist is at the end of this book, and they are all found on YouTube. Once Grandpa got started on finding songs about light for you, he couldn’t stop! Music was a very important part of your life from the day you were born, Lucy. When you were just a tiny new-born baby and were sad or uncomfortable, your Daddy would bring out his big guitar, tune it up, and sing one song after another just for you. Sometimes he would just make up the song right then and were very funny. And almost every time, once the music started, you would listen and start to feel better, and soon you would fall asleep in peace. And now your mommy and daddy help you to listen to music all the time, and you are so lucky that they do this. So keep singing and clapping and dancing, Lucy. Keep making a “joyful noise” and you draw closer and closer to the wonderful Lord who loved us so much that He created music for all of us.

A Prayer for Light to Shine Through: “Lord Jesus, I don’t want to add to the world’s darkness; I want to shine your light through my life. The darkness can be fearsome, but you have told us not to fear, because you have overcome the world and the darkness cannot douse your light. It’s in the matchless name of Jesus that I pray. Amen.” 

Thinking about creation, Lucy, did you know that all the light in the whole world and in the sky comes from God… the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? They each, yet altogether, created the world together as One Big Creator! And way, way back before there was anything at all in the world, before there were any lights like the sun, the moon, and all those sparkly stars, God lived there in the holy darkness and decided to sing out, “Let there be Light!” And everything God created from then on has light in it… the dust on the ground, the trees and plants, the animals, the fish and the birds, and believe it or not, each of us humans even have light within us too. Yes, isn’t it a wonderful miracle that you and me and everyone around us is made with light, the light that comes from our God who loves us so much. Maybe this is one way to think about creation, Lucy… It’s as if God the Father of Lights wore his heavenly cloak of eternal light, and He decided to unwrap His robe of light and sing “Let there be light!” into the darkness. And then the deep, empty darkness faded away as the Sun of Righteousness joined the morning stars and they all rejoiced together at the wonderful thing God had done in creation. So light became the world’s first creature, and then became the main ingredient hidden in everything. I wonder if the whole purpose of God’s creation now is that the whole world would reflect the light of His glorious presence!

Love at the Speed of Light. Love has come to us at the speed of light. Beaming from heaven’s glory, coming in radiant waves from light years away. Love continues to arrive at 186,000 miles per second, at 670 million miles per hour. Love can circle the earth seven times in one second. Nothing in creation moves faster than love at the speed of light. The light of eternal love is the world’s only constant quality, the one unchangeable fixture in the universe. Love at the speed of light. Coming right at us, face-to-face.

God’s Light in Nature. And now we have God’s “light” humor for us to enjoy, like the Lightning Bug and the Flashing Fish, the Fiery Plankton and the Bermuda Fire Worm, the Blue-Ringed Octopus and the Firefly: Isn’t it fun to see that all biologists agree on something, that all living creatures show light! The lights from nature’s creatures may be weak, and they may be invisible, but light literally exists in every living thing on the earth. Let’s have some fun, Lucy, and look at some hilarious creatures of light that show us a little of how God has shared light in nature:

(1.)  The Flashlight Fish. These fish have special pouches of glowing bacteria under their eyes. They can turn on their lights by simply lowering the folds of skin below each eye. Their primary protection from predators is called the “blink and run” strategy. When they sense trouble, they turn on their lights and swim in one direction. Then they quickly turn off their lights and swim in the opposite direction. The predators lose them in their confusion and give up.

(2.) The Fire Plants. There are microscopic plants in every ocean that are called “bioluminescent” plankton. These are extremely tiny marine plants that glow like swimming fireflies. They are able to absorb sunlight and then emit the stored light whenever the “mood” strikes them. Some say they light up when they sense pollution, or even when a large wave hits them under water. Miraculously, these fire plants are able to glow blue, green, red or orange. Eyewitnesses report that it is an astoundingly beautiful sight to behold.

(3.)  Fireflies. These common insects twinkle during summer evenings, as you have seen, Lucy. They emit light from a tiny organ on the underside of their abdomen called a “lantern,” when a biological reaction takes place. Each firefly is able to produce this light whenever they please. Every species of firefly has a unique twinkling pattern, so that the mates are able to identify their own species. One might say these fireflies have been given by God a “twinkle feature” that allows each species of firefly to flourish.

(4.) The Bermuda Fire Worm. This marine animal produces its own light through the mixing of chemicals in its body. It produces what is called a “cold light” which doesn’t give off any heat, for the protection of the animals.

(5.)  The Blue-Ringed Octopus.  When disturbed or alarmed, this species of octopus will flash fluorescent blue circular rings all over its body. They are able to absorb and then store light from its environment, including the sun, and then emit that light if a predator approaches.

(6.) Lucy and Everyone Else! Your body, Lucy, also absorbs, stores, and shoots out little pieces of light. Every human body soak in sunlight through the skin, and then that light travels through the blood system. The human eye is especially good at absorbing light through the natural light’s radiation. Because your face gets the most sunlight, Lucy, your face glows more than the rest of the body, even if it is invisible. Believe it or not, you and every other person welcome a certain color light from around us, and it’s a beautiful violet-blue light! There are even special cameras that maybe you could look at some time, Lucy that show us what our invisible light looks like. The fancy science word for that invisible light that we can shoot out of our bodies is called “thermal radiation.”

“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

And now let’s go from one miracle in nature, Light, to another miracle that became a part of nature, Jesus. Isn’t it amazing that the light-filled Son of God was born in the night, and that a million, million angels lit up the sky with heavenly light when Jesus was born in Bethlehem? We can’t forget, can we, that Jesus called Himself the Light of the World? Or that when we all get to heaven to be with Him, we won’t need the sun for light, because Jesus will be all the light we’ll need? It doesn’t surprise us then, Lucy, that Jesus also called Himself the Bright and Morning Star who will light up the sky and even guide you even now as you seek to follow Him. That’s a little like what the three Wise Men did after Jesus was born, right?

“Now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with Him. Your mission is to live as children of light. And the supernatural fruits of His light will be seen in you – goodness, righteousness and truth.” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

A Song List for Lucy (all the following songs are found on YouTube):

1. This Little Light of Mine – Listener Kids.
2. I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light – Notre Dame Magnificent Choir.
3. I Saw the Light – Gaither Music TV with Jessy Dixon.
4. Give Me Oil in My Lamp – Beautiful Hymn, BEKOFI, Creative Hub.
5. Shine, Jesus, Shine – Big Sing at Royal Albert Hall.
6. This Little Light of Mine – Gospel Dream Choir.
7. Shine On – Dolly Parton.
8. Let Your Light from the Lighthouse Shine On Me – Abbot Kinney lighthouse Choir.
9. Morning Light – Josh Garrels.
10. This Little Light of Mine – Springsteen in Dublin, Live.
11. I Saw the Light – Backwoods Bluegrass.
12. Let Your Light from the Lighthouse Shine on Me – Second Line Jazz Band.
13. O Gladsome Light – GENTRI, Lyceum Philharmonic.
14. Nunc Dimittus – Prayer Before Going To Sleep, Harpa Dei.

Lucy, the words to this song here are so wonderful, we wanted you to see them so you could remember them better. Maybe you could read these words as you listen to the song:

‘I Want to Walk As A Child of the Light:”

1. I want to walk as a child of the light; I want to follow Jesus.

God sent the stars to give light to the world; the star of my life is Jesus.

(chorus) In Him there is no darkness at all, the night and the day are both alike.

The Lamb is the light of the city of God; Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

2. I want to see the brightness of God; I want to look at Jesus.

Clear sun of righteousness, shine om my path, and show me the way to the Father.

(chorus)

3. I’m looking for the coming of Christ; I want to be with Jesus.

When we have run with patience the race, we shall know the joy of Jesus.

(chorus)

Lucy, maybe these ideas below should wait until you get a little older, okay?

Here are six ways to walk as a child of the light:

1. Let the sunlight flood your soul by following Jesus;
2. Shine a bright light on your path in life by reading the Bible;
3. Welcome the light of Christ into yourself by taking His Body and Blood;
4. Spread God’s light to others by doing what Jesus would do;
5. Speak words of light by telling the truth;
6. Warm the hearts of family and friends with the light of your joy and kindness.

A Prayer to Let My Light Shine: “O Lord, I thank you for the light that shines from within! Help me this day to recognize the several points of light that shine within me: the light of faith, the light of hope, the light of love! Regardless of whether or not the sun is shining or the rain is falling, remind me that there is a light that you have given me that will never go out. Help me through my life to brighten the world of the depressed, to glow in a world of darkness and to shine when others struggle to find joy. Remind me that I have a light and that you have commanded me to let my light shine. In a time of war, may my light be a light of peace. In a time of hate, may my light be a light of love. In a time of poverty, may my light be a light of prosperity. In a time of scarcity, may my light be a light of abundance. Bless me this day to be a light to the world. Help me this day to let my light shine that all people might see your goodness, mercy and power, shining through what they see in me. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray. Amen.” (Composed by Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood III)