2022 Advent Devotional Guide: Preface & Story "Candle Lite" by Sue Wright

“Excited for the holidays?” asked Mary, not expecting a positive response. Daughter Jen, slumped on the couch, looked gloomier than ever, her perpetual attitude since school had started.

“Just another Christmas, far as I’m concerned,” mumbled Jen.

Mary couldn’t figure her daughter’s funk. Was it the result of depression or burn-out? Whichever, Mary worried about Jen. She was also beginning to feel impatient. What fifteen year old doesn’t get worked up about Christmas? It’s moms and dads who are supposed to feel worn-out with the season’s myriad activities. Not their kids! Mary decided it was time she found out what was bothering Jen.

“So tell me, sweetheart, what’s the problem with you and Christmas? You’ve always loved everything about it.”

“It’s not really Christmas that has me bummed,” Jen murmured thoughtfully. “It’s this messed up world we live in. How can we celebrate peace on Earth, good will to everybody, when peace doesn’t exist and never has? How long do we have to wait for peace before we give up on the whole idea?”

“Heady questions, dear, with no easy answers, I’m afraid. I only know that on Christmas Eve, when we’re at our church’s candlelight service after a month of Advent, and we begin to sing, “Silent Night,” I feel an inner peace that sustains me for days to come. A peace I annually vow to pass along-- whenever, wherever, however, and with whomever I can.”

“At least you have a plan for peace. That’s better than most people. Better than me.”

“I don’t know about that. What I do know is that life is complicated, especially when it comes to fitting into this crazy, imperfect world of ours. Still, even the least of us have the ability to change the world for the better if we try. It’s like that old song of Perry Como’s your Nana likes to sing . . .”

“You mean, ‘If everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be?’”

“That’s the one!” exclaimed Mary, and began to sing, Jen joining in, helpless not to, her adolescent angst suddenly a ghost of the past. ‘It is better to light just one little candle, than to stumble in the dark! Better far that you light just one little candle, All you need’s a tiny spark! If we’d all say a prayer that the world would be free, a wonderful dawn of a new day we’d see! And, if everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be!’” *

The house quiet again, Jen looked at her mother and grinned. “How about just the two of us decorate the tree before Dad gets home?”

Mary had to giggle. “’Just the two of us?’ That’s one of your Nana’s favorite Bill Withers’ songs!”

“Bill who?” popped Jen, shaking her head and rolling her eyes even as laughter filled the generation gap between mother and daughter. Still chuckling, Jen whispered, ever so softly, healing as she spoke, “Merry Christmas, mom!”

 “Merry Christmas darling girl,” sighed Mary, her smile bright as a freshly lit candle. Jen’s candle.

*Songwriters: George Mysels and J. Maloy Roach, Leeds Music Corporation, 1951.