Christmas Thoughts

Our family has the tradition of lighting Advent candles on the Sundays before Christmas, then reading  Scripture. The soft glow of the candle is peaceful and silent but it reflects a powerful message of hope and love.

I wish that our world would stop for a moment and absorb this quietness and peace. Doesn’t Scripture say that our words flow from the wellspring of what’s within our hearts? Hateful, ugly words, hatred and violence won’t come from a heart that has love at its core.

 As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said,

“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Beneath all the clamor of sorrow and guilt and hatred, longings, and tears, hope burns on. Christ is born. He didn’t hate and He got His point across without cursing and threatening and violence. The message of Christmas comes with the softness of a candle’s flame, but it is a light that can change human hearts.