Christmas Candles

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;

It makes no noise at all,

But softly gives itself away;

While quite unselfish, it grows small.

- Eva K. Logue

Early on, I loved candles.  I do not remember them in my childhood home except for special occasions or birthdays, but the candles near stained glass windows in church mesmorized me. 

In college, we were never allowed to have candles in our dorms for fire safety reasons, so my exploration into candles began when I married.  Throughout the year, my candles were ignited regularly.  One summer evening, a friend dropped by and exclaimed, "It looks like Christmas in here!  What are you celebrating?"  I love candles.

Candles bring light into a room, but they also bring light into my soul.  If I am nestled in my reading chair, I like to have a candle burning.  Sometimes when I get up of a morning, I like to light a candle in celebration of the day or of my life.  I can stare into the flame of a candle in easily get lost or suspended in time.  A flame seems to diminish the chill of the world.

And so it is Christmas, an appropriate time for candles.  We will begin to see them everywhere ... stores, church services, homes, and outside decorations.  Wherever you happen to be, I suggest you pause and focus on the flame of the candle. 

The flame of the candle can be associated with the light of Christ or the light of the world.  Watch it flicker and feel its warmth extend into your heart.  Embrace the light, welcome it into your heart.  Let it brighten your space and time on this earth.