Thankful Thursday #45

I am so thankful for so many things everyday.

Want something fun and meaningful for your kids to wear this summer? 

I just got in my new charms and I am so excited about them!

I love summer.  I have the best memories of summer growing up.  We always went to the beach with family and the days at home just seemed endless. 

The summer seemed longer too!  We didn't have as many breaks and holidays that the school calendar does today so we actually had more days in number for summer break than there are today.

We lived in a big subdivision and had a lot of friends.  We would go from house to house, ride our bikes everywhere, and didn't go in until it was dark or we heard our mom call us.  And, I don't mean texting or on the mobile phone, she actually stood outside and yelled for us!

Things are different today and I can't help but be sad that kids today don't get to experience the kind of summer we had years ago. The benefit is that years ago you missed your classmates that didn't live near you or maybe took a trip while today's kids can keep in touch through phones and social media.

We had a creek where we lived growing up and I stayed in it during the summer.  I think back now at the poisonous snakes we saw and how it could have been so dangerous, but it was just always fun. Another thing I loved was catching lightning bugs.  We would put holes in the lid of mason jars and catch them for our own, personal night light.  Just watching them fly around was so pretty.  Some nights it seemed to take forever to get dark so they would be seen.

Lightning bugs, or fireflies, use their glow as communication with one another.  Specifically, the male can let the female know he's interested and she can answer back.  They can also synchronize their lighting up.  Not all fireflies glow, though.  In the west, specifically California, there are species that don't have a lit bottom.  In some places, Southeast Asia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, they light up at the same time repeatedly all night long.  Also, they are actually beetles not flies.

I am not alone enjoying seeing these little shimmers of summer entertainment.  I think of the song we used to sing in children's choir when I was young and my grandmother helped lead the children's choir.  We would sing the song, "This Little Light of Mine."  I still love the song.

Lightning bugs set themselves apart from annoying summer insects because we look forward to seeing them!  They fly around like a free spirit spreading a sense of wonder.  We bottle them up to keep that beauty for ourselves, but it is really selfish because they lose their light sooner when captured.  We should really appreciate them for what they are...beautiful, magical, and so worth the wait for sundown.

In the spirit of my love of summer and lightning bugs and the song, "This Little Light of Mine," I designed and had these custom charms made for kids and kids at heart to enjoy.

The words to "This Little Light of Mine" are below.  It was written by Harry Dixon Loes around the 1920's, but became tied to Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer.  While she was detained by police after attempting to register to vote with others in her community, she began singing this song.

This Little Light Of Mine Hymn

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

We all have our own special, unique "light" that God has placed in each of us and we should do whatever to keep that light shining bright.

I made these pretty little charms with the cross made of nails that is glow in the dark.  The Bible verse below the cross is John 8:12.

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

We are human and flawed.  We let people down and others let us down.  It is human nature.  God won't ever leave us or let us down.  What a great way to wear your faith, blend in with the lightning bugs, and be a "light" for all to see!

I am listing these in my shop.  I have the last charms I posted about, "Can I Get An Amen," with some listings in my Etsy shop. (Click here.)  My little dog, Mia, is doing much better, but it has been a crazy week staying right with her making sure she eats and doesn't do anything to hurt herself. I will get caught up soon!  I have two more charms in production and two more in revisions and another I am trying to get on paper!

What is your special "light" and what do you do to keep it shining?