You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Be a Little Sunbeam

Representative Text

1 Be a little sunbeam ev’rywhere you go;
Help to drive the darkness from this world below;
You will see the shadows swiftly flee away,
If you’ll be a sunbeam ev’ry day.

Refrain:
Be a little sunbeam tho’ your light be small,
Let its gleam of beauty o’er the darkness fall;
You will see the shadows swiftly flee away,
If you’ll be a sunbeam ev’ry day.

2 Be a little sunbeam ev’rywhere you go;
Shine, O shine for Jesus with a radiant glow;
Little ones may help this dark world to illume,
Sending golden sunshine thro’ the gloom. [Refrain]

3 Be a little sunbeam, shining bright and clear;
Someone may be wand’ring in the darkness near;
You may help to scatter shadows of the night,
Leading unto Christ who is the Light. [Refrain]

Source: The Modern Hymnal #403

Author: Alice Jean Cleator

Alice Jean Cleator, 1871-1926 Born: Cir­ca 1871, An­dre­as, Isle of Man, Eng­land. Died: Cir­ca April 27, 1926, Cleve­land, Ohio. Cleator’s family ev­i­dent­ly em­igrat­ed to Amer­i­ca in the 1870’s. She was liv­ing in Clar­idon, Ohio, in 1880, & Geau­ga Coun­ty, Ohio, in 1900, 1910, & 1920. She taught school in New York Ci­ty, re­tir­ing some time be­fore 1915. --hymntime.com/tch/ Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Be a little sunbeam everywhere you go
Title: Be a Little Sunbeam
Author: Alice Jean Cleator (1903)
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Be a little sunbeam though your light be small
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
Page Scan

Children's Praise No. 1 #87

Cross and Crown Hymnal #d37

Page Scan

Harvest Hymns #214

Page Scan

Jehovah's Praise #281

Missionary Melodies #d2

Page Scan

Precious Hymns #120

Page Scan

Sunday School Hymns No. 1 #16

TextAudioPage Scan

The Modern Hymnal #403

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.