Scripture Verse

You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14

Introduction

portrait
Eben E. Rexford (1848–1916)

Words: Eb­en E. Rex­ford, In­ter­na­tion­al Praise (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Ed­win O. Ex­cell, 1902), num­ber 154.

Music: Charles H. Ga­bri­el (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Charles H. Gabriel (1856–1932)

Lyrics

I think God gives the children,
As through the land they go,
The most delightful mission
That anyone can know.
He wants us to be sunbeams
Of love and hope and cheer,
To brighten up the shadows
That often gather here.

Refrain

O we are little sunbeams,
Sent down from God to man;
In all life’s shady places,
We shine as best we can.

The clouds may hide the sunshine
Of Hea­ven from our sight,
And life have much of sorrow
To mar the heart’s delight;
But if like faithful sunbeams,
We children do our part,
We’ll bring a ray of brightness
To every shadowed heart.

Refrain

Then let us live our mission
Of sunbeams day by day,
And scatter joy and brightness
About us all the way;
Let’s chase away life’s shadows
With loving thought and deed
And be the sunshine makers,
Of which the world has need.

Refrain