Leo and the Lantern of Kindness: Reflecting the Light of Jesus
- Boundless Team
- Feb 26
- 6 min read
The Story
Leo loved his new backpack. It had a small clip-on lantern that his grandmother gave him, one that glowed soft yellow when he pressed the button. "This will help you find your way," she'd said with a warm smile.
But Leo didn't need help finding his way. He knew every hallway at Riverside Elementary. He had friends at lunch. He had a seat on the bus. Everything was just fine.
Until the day he noticed Emma.
She sat alone at the far table during lunch. She walked alone during recess. She kept her head down in the hallway like she was trying to disappear.
Leo had seen her before, but he'd never really noticed her until today.
"Why doesn't Emma have any friends?" Leo asked his mom that afternoon.
His mom paused from chopping vegetables. "Sometimes people need someone to be brave enough to be kind first."
"But what if she doesn't want friends?" Leo asked.
His mom smiled. "What if she's just waiting for someone to notice her?"
That night, Leo thought about Emma. He thought about his little lantern. He thought about the verse his Sunday school teacher had taught them: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16.
He wasn't sure what that meant exactly. But he knew one thing.
Emma was sitting in the dark. And he had a light.
The next morning, Leo's stomach felt tight as he walked into the cafeteria. He saw Emma in her usual spot, picking at her sandwich, her shoulders hunched like she was trying to be invisible.
Leo took a deep breath.
Then he walked over.
"Hi, Emma," he said. "Can I sit here?"
Emma looked up, surprised. Her eyes were wide. "Um... okay."
Leo sat down and pulled out his lunch. His heart was pounding, but he smiled. "Do you like drawing? I saw you had a sketchbook yesterday."
Emma's face softened just a little. "Yeah. I like drawing animals."
"That's cool! I like animals too. My favorite is otters. What's yours?"
"Foxes," Emma said quietly. Then she opened her sketchbook and showed him a drawing of a fox sitting under a tree. It was really good.
"Whoa," Leo said. "That's amazing."
For the first time, Emma smiled.
The rest of the week, Leo sat with Emma at lunch. He introduced her to his friends. He invited her to play foursquare at recess. And slowly, like a flower opening toward the sun, Emma started to shine.
She laughed more. She talked more. She even showed the class her drawings during art time.
One afternoon, Emma walked up to Leo after school. "Thanks for being nice to me," she said. "I was really lonely before."
Leo felt something warm in his chest. "You're not lonely anymore."
Emma grinned. "No. I'm not."
That night, Leo told his grandmother what happened.
She hugged him tight. "You were her lantern, Leo. You brought light into her darkness."
Leo thought about that. He thought about how one small choice: sitting at a different lunch table: changed everything for Emma. He thought about how Jesus said His followers are the light of the world.
And he realized: that's what it meant.
Being kind. Being brave. Showing up.
That's how Jesus' light shines through us.
Scripture Tie-In
Matthew 5:16 (NIV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Jesus doesn't ask us to be perfect. He asks us to be present. He asks us to be kind. He asks us to bring His light into dark places: not with fancy words or grand gestures, but with simple acts of love.
When Leo sat with Emma, he didn't know he was reflecting Jesus' light. He just knew someone was lonely, and he could do something about it.
That's all it takes.
A small choice. A kind word. A hand extended.
And suddenly, darkness doesn't stand a chance.
Reflection Questions for Parents and Kids
1. Who in your life might be sitting alone like Emma? How could you be their "lantern" this week?
Take a moment to think about your school, neighborhood, or church. Is there someone who looks lonely or left out? Talk together about one specific way you could show kindness to that person.
2. Why do you think it was hard for Leo to walk over to Emma at first? What helped him be brave?
Discuss how kindness sometimes feels scary because we don't know how someone will respond. Talk about how remembering God's love for us helps us love others, even when it's hard.
3. What does it mean to "let your light shine"? How can we do that in everyday moments?
Help your child see that being the light doesn't mean being perfect: it means showing love, kindness, patience, and courage. Brainstorm small ways they can reflect Jesus' light in their daily routines.
SEO Meta
Meta Title: Leo and the Lantern of Kindness: A Story About Being Jesus' Light Meta Description: Join Leo as he learns what it means to reflect Jesus' light by showing kindness to a lonely classmate. A warm story for ages 7-9, complete with reflection questions and family activities.
Supplemental Pack Content
Memory Verse Card
Front: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." : Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
Back: Key Truth: When we show kindness and love, we reflect Jesus' light to the world around us.
Visual Style: Watercolor illustration of a child holding a glowing lantern in soft yellows and warm oranges, with gentle charcoal outlines. The background shows a simple path leading toward light.
Boundless Creative Publishing House™ An outreach ministry of First Assembly Memphis www.boundlessonlinechurch.org www.famemphis.org
Coloring Page Illustration Prompt
Scene Description: A child (age 7-9) sitting at a lunch table with another child who looks shy or lonely. The kind child is smiling and holding out a hand in friendship. Between them on the table is a small glowing lantern casting warm light. In the background, soft rays of sunlight stream through a window.
Art Style: Watercolor and charcoal hybrid. Gentle, warm tones: yellows, soft oranges, light blues. Simple line work that's easy for children to color. The lantern should be the focal point with a gentle glow effect.
Mood: Warm, inviting, hopeful. The scene should feel safe and encouraging.
Printable Activity: The Kindness Lantern Checklist
Instructions for Parents: Print this simple checklist and help your child track acts of kindness throughout the week. Each time they complete one, they can color in a "light" on their paper lantern.
Kindness Lantern Checklist:
☐ Say something kind to someone who looks sad
☐ Sit with someone who's alone
☐ Help someone without being asked
☐ Share something with a friend
☐ Invite someone new to play
☐ Tell someone why they're special
☐ Pray for someone who needs encouragement
How to Use: Each day, pick one act of kindness to try. After completing it, color one section of the lantern on the printout. By the end of the week, your lantern will be full of light: just like your heart will be full of joy!
Spiritual Connection Script: "When we do these kind things, we're showing people what Jesus is like. We're being His light in the world. And you know what? The more we shine His light, the brighter the world becomes!"
Parent Discussion Guide
Heart of the Story
Leo discovers that being Jesus' light doesn't require grand gestures: it starts with noticing someone in need and choosing to act with kindness and courage. Through his friendship with Emma, he learns that small acts of love can transform someone's world.
Theological Roots
Assemblies of God Core Truth: Believers are called to be witnesses of Christ through both word and deed. The light we carry isn't our own: it's the light of Jesus living in us. When we love others, we make the invisible God visible.
Key Scriptural Foundation:
Matthew 5:14-16 (We are the light of the world)
John 8:12 (Jesus is the Light of the World)
1 John 4:19 (We love because He first loved us)
Discussion Questions by Age
Ages 7-9:
What would you do if you saw someone sitting alone?
How do you think Emma felt before Leo talked to her? How did she feel after?
What's one way you can be brave and kind this week?
Prayer Closer:
"Dear Jesus, thank You for being the Light of the World. Help us to shine Your light by being kind, brave, and loving to everyone we meet. Show us who needs a friend, and give us courage to reach out. We want to reflect Your love everywhere we go. Amen."
Hands-On Faith Activity: Make Your Own Kindness Lantern
What You'll Need:
Small mason jar or clear plastic cup
Tissue paper (yellow, orange, white)
Glue or mod podge
Battery-operated tea light
Markers
Instructions:
Cut or tear tissue paper into small pieces.
Glue tissue paper pieces all over the outside of the jar, overlapping them to create a colorful, glowing effect.
Once dry, write "Let Your Light Shine" on the jar with a marker.
Place the tea light inside.
Turn on the light and watch it glow!
Spiritual Connection: "This lantern reminds us that Jesus' light lives inside us. When we're kind to others, we let that light shine out. Keep your lantern somewhere you'll see it every day as a reminder to be Jesus' light in the world!"
Boundless Creative Publishing House™ An outreach ministry of First Assembly Memphis www.boundlessonlinechurch.org www.famemphis.org
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