This Little Light

Lights come up as Mom and Dad are reading a bedtime story to their seven-year-old daughter, Hope. The children's book they have chosen focuses on the differences between people. While Dad leaves the room for a moment, Mom asks Hope what she thought about the story. But the rituals of bedtime continue to distract Hope from answering. Finally Mom finds a moment to help Hope understand that people can make each other feel bad. Concerned about an incident with her daughter's friend Brenda, Mom asks Hope why her friend was crying. Dad returns and notices his wife's concern about Hope's behavior but he moves on to a song. Mom kisses Hope goodnight as Dad sings her to sleep. As the lights fade on Dad and Hope, Mom returns to the stage in a different light while the scene plays out upstage. In a monologue, she admits to being the little girl no one wanted to play with on the playground. We now understand why Mom was so concerned about Hope's behavior. How do we teach our children kindness? Love? Compassion? These are the questions addressed at the heart of this scene.Willow Creek Association is the author of 'This Little Light', published 2004 under ISBN 9780744146226 and ISBN 0744146224.