Yes, Cajunky, I got this in my email yesterday, too! I was going to paste it here, but you beat me to it.
I wanted to add the bottom P.S. to it....this is a tradition that I first heard about here, rather than RejoiceMinistries, many months ago. Actually, I think I did this about a year ago!! I remember writing H a letter, really I wrote a poem about the candle, which I sent him over Christmas (and included a picture of the candle), explaining it to him. I never got a reply. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> Is ok. I know God knows, and will use this info when H is ready.
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NEW TRADITIONS
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
We want to share a beautiful story about a tradition from a stander from Tennessee. She writes:
"It has always been tradition in my own home to place (electric) candle lights in each window of the front of our home at Christmas.
After Christmas 1999 when it came time to put away the Christmas ornaments and trim, the thought came to me as I went to the windows to
remove the candles, that those candles presented something else besides the fact that it was Jesus Christ's birth. The candles made it Christmas everyday of our lives and HE is the ight of the world.
"That was always my reason for having them here, plus they added such a warm homey effect inside and out. I realized that those candles were shinning a light out into the darkness. That's how I wanted our neighbors to see the light and love of Jesus shinning and permeating out of each of us in this house. I then realized that this very light would be the light that would bring my prodigal back home.
"It just felt like the thing to do from that moment on would be to never let another night go by without having those candle lights burning. My husband noticed when he would come to pick up the children that they were on but wouldn't bother to ask why. I know in my heart that he knew the reason. They will shine into the far
country and show my husband the way back to God and our home.
"I find it quite awesome that we just happen to have three windows on the front of our house, a candle for each one of us to light exactly,
no more. My daughter (age 11), son (age 13) and I turn the candle lights on each night at dusk and repeat something to our Father in unison as they come on. We believe that there is strength in numbers, especially when we pray, for where there are "two or more." We will say something like: "Father, we receive the healing of our family in the Name of Jesus, or Father send the light to Daddy."
"It is so amazing the little things that we take for granted that God sends to remind us on a daily basis that He is totally in control and
always with us. These candles are one of those things that do that for us. Even though I sometimes have those weary days when I feel I
cannot go another moment in this stand. I know I can never quit and as long as I live the light will be shining to show us all the way!"
"In him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:4
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I was so inspired by someone on MB who had taken this thought and placed a candle in their window, I immediately put one up.
I placed the candle in the front window, right where you can see it from quite a distance down the road (I live on a kind of "T" road, right at the vertex of the T. Contrary to the writer above, I NEVER turn it off. It's been lit for a year now. I will never turn it off, till my prodigal has returned home.
Cajunky, in reference to your other post, the last time someone tried to "fix me up" - I pulled up to my driveway, head swirling....."Was I doing the right thing rejecting this offer, Lord?" thoughts running wildly through my head. As soon as I saw that candle, I
remembered. I'm STANDING, I'm waiting for God to restore my M. There's the tangible proof. DUH!! How could I even CONSIDER dating anyone while I had that candle burning in the window where all the neighbors (and all my family and friends) can see it? That might make the stand easier for some.
BTW - I wrote a poem in conjunction with the stand, and spiritual meaning (to me) of my candle burning, waiting for God to bring my prodigal to himself, and ultimately home. If anyone would like to read it, I'll search for it in Poems Forum, or saved on a disk.
Anyone want to join in this small, but symbolic gesture?
God Bless,
