The Light of the World
I was blessed to grow up in home where Christmas was always a magical time. For a little girl with an over-sized imagination, it was easy to get caught up in the idea of Santa Claus, Christmas presents and bulging stockings. There was one Christmas, however, that changed the “visions of sugar plums dancing in my head” into something quite different.
It was the Christmas I was finally old enough to belong to a girls group in our church called C.G.I.T. (Christian Girls in Training). It was to become a significant part of my life right through my teenage years, and this year I would take part in the Candle-lighting Service.
As one of the littlest girls I was at the end of the line as we made our way down the center aisle of the sanctuary. Our little church seemed magically changed with the lovely candles glowing in every window and the beautiful tree in front of the choir loft. I felt a sense of awe as we stood in front of the congregation and sang the ageless Carols and recited Luke 2 from memory.
I had a special part in the program that night. Two other little girls and I did hand motions as one of our leaders sang “There’s A Song In the Air” in a clear soprano voice.
As the evening drew to a close we slowly filed down from the stage, picked up a snow white candle and formed two lines up the side aisles of the church. Then the oldest girls lit their candles and turned to light the candle of the girl next to them. Down the rows the tiny flames burst into life as each girl in turn lit the candle of her neighbor.
I cannot put into words the feeling that filled my small heart as the lights in the church were turned out and we stood holding our lighted candles. We sang a final Carol, and I felt Christmas – the “real” Christmas – flood my heart with joy.
The Light of the World had come to dispel the darkness, and it was a gift that had no equal.
“Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.'”
John 8:12 (NAS)
In His Love,
Linda
Oh, Linda, what a beautiful Christmas memory to have. I can imagine that it must have been a beautiful moment when all candles were lit.
Thank you so much for sharing the Light of the World with us today, this Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!
I love this! I love candles! It just brings that peace of God in our hearts to be in a candle lit room so often! In fact this morning I lit about 6 candles and did my devotions by candle light and tree light… it is so amazing! thanks for this post!
We have lit a candle on Christmas Eve as we read the Christmas Story from the Bible. It somehow brings it all in focus … it’s not about the gifts or the tree or the cookies or santa … its about the light of the World that came in the form of a babe in a manger.
Thanks for sharing, Merry Christmas!
Your writing creates such a picture in my head of this special time.
What a beautiful experience Linda. God is truly the light to our path.
Such a precious memory .
What a vivid memory. Thanks for sharing your experience and the verse. Every verse seems to remind me to look at Christmas with a grateful heart. Thank you!
What a beautiful Christmas memory to have! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I really enjoyed your post.
Hi Linda,
Yesterday we lit the candles in our church. Beautiful. I loved reliving this memory with you. God bless… and His name shall be called Immanuel…
I love this story. I love candlelight services. I love “There’s a Song in the Air” – DC and I sang it every year for a long time. He and his sister and I sang it last Sunday.
Linda, this is a beautiful story. I can picture you quite clearly holding your candle, with a smile just as bright as the flame 🙂
We do this at the end of our Christmas Eve service every year, and sing Silent Night. It always gives me the utmost feeling of peace and contentment, and is one of the best parts of Christmas for me.