The Night-Light

"Aren't you too old for a night-light?" Brendon's cousin Ollie smirked at the superhero light.Brendon's face flushed. "My mom said I can keep it as long as I want.""Are you afraid of the dark?" Ollie asked.Brendon's mom called them down for supper just then, and he was glad he didn't have to answer. After they ate and played a few video games, his cousin left and it was time for bed.When Brendon stepped into his room, he looked at the night-light. Maybe it was too babyish for him. Brendon pulled it out. The room was dark without it, so he hurried to his bed and pulled the blankets over his head. When he peeked out from under the blankets, he couldn't even see his toys across the room.The door creaked open, and Brendon almost jumped. "Mom?""Are you okay?" Mom asked. "Your night-light isn't plugged in.""I took it out." Brendon sat up. "I'm too old for it.""Oh?"Brendon nodded. "They're for little kids. I can be in the dark.""Everyone needs light." Mom sat on the edge of his bed. "Without it, we can't see what's around us. Without it, life can feel scary.""But you don't have a night-light in your room," Brendon pointed out."No," Mom said. "I sleep better without one. But I do have a different kind of light. One that you have too.""Huh?" Brendon asked."I have Jesus's light, and I carry it with me everywhere. It makes the darkness a lot less scary." Mom patted Brendon's chest. "You have Jesus with you always. He conquered sin and death to save you, and He can help you in darkness or whenever you feel afraid."Brendon took in a breath. "I guess I didn't think about that. I just felt alone with the light off.""You are never alone." Mom kissed his cheek. "Jesus is always with you." She got up. "So, about your night-light…""Will you plug it back in?" Brendon asked. "I know Jesus is my light, but…""It's okay if you have a night-light too." Mom plugged the night-light into the outlet, and Brendon relaxed when he saw it glowing and thought of how Jesus was with him too. -Bethany Acker