Skit arranged by GMA of First Baptist, Taylor

Adapted from "Teacher's Swap Shop"

Characters: Narrator, grandmother, teacher, five girls, hotel manager

Props: sign: "Hotel-famous for its duck dinners," rocking chair, piano or keyboard, various items carried by girls (silverware and polishing cloth, iron and linens, apron, broom, toy or stuffed duck, Bible.

NARRATOR: Do you know what God's Word says in Matthew 5:16? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Notice who is to be glorified or honored-God, not you or me. How can we let our lights shine before others so they can see our good works and glorify God? Perhaps the story of Nancy will help you to let your light shine.

Nancy learned to love the Lord Jesus when she was just a little girl. Her mother, father, and grandfather had died. Nancy, who had no brothers or sisters, lived with her grandmother. Life at home wasn't very pleasant. Her grandmother was cranky and grumpy all the time. She did not love the Lord.

Nancy spoke to her grandmother about the Lord and sang happy little choruses she learned at GMA, but her grandmother would become very angry.

One day when Nancy came home from GMA, her heart was bubbling over. Her teacher had said, "Let your light shine before people so they will see your good works and will glorify God."

NANCY: (enters singing): "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine…."

GRANDMOTHER: (sitting in her rocking chair and acting especially grumpy that day): Well, you can't shine around here. If you are going to shine, you'll have to do it somewhere else--and I mean it! Get out! Leave!

NARRATOR: Poor Nancy had to leave the only place she could call home. Grandmother did see if she could get her another place to stay. She learned that the hotel downtown needed a girl to polish the silver. So Nancy was given a cot in the room at the end of the hall near the kitchen so she would be near her work. It was not really a place she could call home, but Nancy was happy to have a worm bed and a shelter from the weather outside. At least she was cozy in her corner of the room, and no one bothered her. She could read her Bible and sing as she went about her work.

NANCY: (Enters singing softly as she carefully polishes the silverware with a cloth.) "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine…." I can shine for Jesus here. I'll so my very best shining the silver as I shine for Jesus.

HELEN: (Enters carrying an iron and linens; stops to watch Nancy for a while): Why do you shine the silver with such care?

NANCY: Oh, you see, I'm shining for Jesus. And He would want me to do my very best.

HELEN: I haven't been shining for Jesus like I should. I should be more grateful for this job of ironing for the hotel. Jesus gave me this job. From now on I will do my best for Jesus too.

JUNE: (Enters wearing an apron and carrying a broom: stops to talk with Helen.) Helen, I've never seen you iron so fast and so well. Is there a reason?

HELEN: If Nancy can shine for Jesus when she polishes the silver, I can shine for Jesus when I iron.

JUNE: Hmmm…Maybe I could do a bit of shining myself. I haven't been sweeping in the corners very well lately. (She begins to sweep much better in the corners.)

BETH: (Enters carrying a stuffed duck): Good morning, June. Say, I have never seen you sweep so well. Is there a reason for hitting the corners so carefully?

JUNE: If Nancy can shine for Jesus when she polishes the silver and Helen can shine for Him when she irons, I guess I can shine for Jesus when I sweep the hotel.

(Manager Enters)

NARRATOR; This was a very special hotel and well known for the fine duck dinners that were served there. Beth's job was to feed and care for the ducks that were raised right there at the hotel for the duck dinners. The dinners had always been good, but before long folk began to talk about the extra-delicious duck dinners that were served at the hotel.

MANAGER: Beth, what is the reason for the extra-fine ducks that have been served recently in the dining room?

BETH: If Nancy can shine for Jesus when she polishes the silver and Helen can shine for Jesus when she irons and June can shine for Him when she sweeps, I can shine for Jesus when I take care of the ducks.

NARRATOR: The manager thought it was a wonderful idea. The hotel seemed to be getting better and better as the workers shined for Jesus. When she went home that evening, she told the story to her little girl, Jean.

Jean was like some other little girls who do not like to practice their piano lessons. This time when her mother told her it was time to practice, she said, "I can shine for Jesus, too."

Several weeks later, when Jean's teacher heard her play at church, she thought she had never heard her play so well.

TEACHER: (Enters and goes t Jean, who is sitting at the piano): Jean, your playing is so good now. Can you tell me the reason that you have improved so much?

JEAN: Well, you see, if Nancy can shine for Jesus when she polishes the silver for the hotel, Helen can shine for Jesus when she iron, June can shine for Jesus when she sweeps, Beth can shine for Jesus when she feeds the ducks, I can shine for Jesus when I practice the piano.

TEACHER: I wonder if I have been shining for Jesus as I should. There is an old woman that lives up on the hill whom I need to visit. She needs to know about Jesus. (She goes to the grandmother sitting on the opposite side of the stage and talks to her with her Bible on her lap while the narrator reads the next lines.)

NARRATOR: How happy the teacher was when the old woman asked the Lord Jesus to come into her heart that very day.

GRANDMOTHER: Why is it that you have come to visit me today?

TEACHER: I have come because of the little girl who shines the silver down at the hotel. She does it so well because she's shining for Jesus. Helen shines for Jesus when she irons, June shines for Jesus when she sweeps, Beth shines for Jesus when she feeds the ducks, Jean shines for Jesus when she practices the piano, and I decided I could shine more for Jesus too. So I came to see you.

GRANDMOTHER: (Suddenly smiling): You go down to that hotel and tell that little girl to come home, and we will shine for Jesus together.

(Teacher goes to Nancy, takes her by the hand, and brings her to her grandmother. They embrace with joy.)