Tonight, I want to start with something very small... a candle.

Look at this tiny light. It doesn’t look like much, does it? But if we were sitting in the dark, even this little light would help us see. Even this little light would make us feel safer, braver, more at home.

And that’s exactly how Luke tells the story of Jesus’ birth.

Luke says the night was quiet and dark. Mary and Joseph were far from home. The town was crowded. The stable was simple. Nothing about that night looked big or important. It was just an ordinary night in an ordinary place.

And then—right in the middle of that ordinary night—God’s light broke in.

Out in the fields, shepherds were doing their regular work, watching their sheep, probably trying to stay warm. And suddenly the sky lit up with the glory of God. An angel said, “Do not be afraid… I bring you good news of great joy.” And that good news was this: a baby had been born. A tiny light had come into the world.

The shepherds weren’t powerful or famous. They were regular people—maybe even the kind of people others forgot about. But they were the first ones to hear the good news. They were the first ones to see Jesus. And they were the first ones to shine with joy and run to tell others.

And you know what? I think children are a lot like those shepherds.

You notice things adults miss. You get excited about good news. You run to share joy. You shine without even trying.

When the shepherds saw Jesus, something lit up inside them. They left the stable glowing with joy. And every time you show kindness, every time you help someone, every time you make someone feel welcome—you shine with that same light.

When you sit with someone who’s alone at school…When you help a younger sibling…When you say “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you”…When you include someone who feels left out…That’s light. Real light. Jesus’ light shining through you.

Luke tells us that after the shepherds visited Jesus, they went back to their fields “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” They didn’t stay in the stable. They carried the light back into their everyday lives.

And that’s what we do tonight.

We come to the stable. We hear the story. We see the light of Jesus. And then we go back into our homes, our schools, our neighborhoods—carrying that light with us.

So tonight, remember this: Jesus came as a small light in a dark world. And he trusts you—especially you children—to shine with his light. Your kindness, your joy, your courage… these are lights that help the world see God’s love.

Even the smallest light can change everything. And you can too.

Amen.