The four candles burned slowly. The ambiance was so soft, one could almost hear them talking.
The first candle said, “I am peace. The world is full of anger and fighting. Nobody can keep me lit.” Then the flame of peace snuffed out completely.
The second candle said, “I am faith. I am no longer indispensable. It doesn’t make sense to stay lit another moment.” Just then a breeze softly blew out Faith’s flame.
The third candle said, “I am love. People don’t understand my importance, so they simply put me aside. They even forget to love those nearest them.” And waiting no longer, love’s flame went out.
Suddenly a child entered the room where the four candles huddled together and saw the three unit candles. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Why aren’t you burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end.” And the child began to cry.
Do Not Be Afraid, Child ~
The the fourth candle answered, “Do not be afraid, child. I am HOPE! While I am still burning, we can re-light the other candles.”
The greatest of these is love, but the flame of hope should never go out of your life. Without hope, the soul grows dark just like the candles who lost their glow. But, with hope, each of us can live with peace, faith, and love burning brightly.
HOPE is the anchor of the soul; a sure and steadfast thing. (Hebrews 6:19) Christ in us – the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) However, hope must hold in its grasp the reason for its existence. God’s LOVE for us lights the candle of love again. To know we are loved by our heavenly Father enables us to love one another. When we have LOVE and HOPE, we ignite the candle of FAITH. Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) And PEACE settles over the land.
In the Christmas story, it is said, “Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, Peace, goodwill toward men!”
