Tradition Creates a Meaningful Gift by Philip Burright

May the God of hope fill you with the joy and peace as you trust in the LORD, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13 NIV)

My advent memory takes me back some 45 years ago when my family (seven kids plus Mom & Dad) lit advent candles during each Sunday dinner. I contacted (i.e., group text) my siblings to make sure my memory was correct. The wooden arched candle holder covered with fake holly was handmade by Dad. It held alternating four red, four green, and one white candle dead center. Picture seven kids, all within ten years of age, anxiously waiting for their designated Sunday to light the candles. The oldest two each lit the outermost candles — a seniority benefit because they lit candles every advent Sunday whereas the younger kids lit candles sequentially less. Mom and my youngest sister lit the last two candles next to the white candle. Dad was given the honor of lighting the last but most significant white candle.

As my siblings grew older and left home, Dad switched from real candles to red, green, and white electric bulbs mounted on silver posts. We ate fewer Sunday dinners at the table, so the holder became part of a window decoration with someone remembering to turn on the correct number of bulbs.

All of the siblings agreed that this homemade candle holder, costing next to nothing, was a rich and meaningful part of our family holiday tradition.

May Hope, Joy, and Peace be abundant during this holiday season as you celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus!

Philip Burright

Contributing Siblings: Greg, Tim, Gwen, Priscilla and Jill

Romans 15:4–13