Day 4: The Story Behind the Hymn

The Prompt: Follow this website: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/  Now pick a hymn and write a short story about why the author wrote that song.

From the list of hymns to choose from, I went under "B" (since that's what my first name begins with) and chose "Be a Ray of Sunshine" by Anna B. Russell.  That was the first one that stood out to me that did not already have a story behind it.  Lyrics are here http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/e/r/beraysun.htm


     The author wanted to stress the line "Be a ray of sunshine everywhere you go."  I think she thought this was important for two reasons.  First, she wanted to bring some hope into the world.  She was born in 1917, so she probably lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the 60's, and Vietnam.  Any of those time periods could have been bleak and overwhelming.  With so much sadness and hopelessness around her, she probably wanted to write something cheerful.

     Russell sat down at her desk and thought about all the things that would make this world a better place to live, maybe they were things she did herself that she knew brought happiness.  They could have also been things that she just wished she could do more, such things as "make yourself a blessing every passing day" or "kind words cost but little."

     The author could have also been inspired by the Bible passage about light found in Matthew 5:14-16.  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
     Perhaps Russell was reading in her Bible one day, searching for a comforting passage, when she stumbled across this verse.  She observed that not many of her Christian friends were showing the light of Christ, so she wrote "Be a ray of sunshine everywhere you go, shining for the Savior with a steady glow."  After Russell was satisfied with her hymn, she could have presented it to her church that Sunday.