A Good Word Wednesday #20 🕯🎄
Hope, Encouragement and Help for you today
Good Word of the Week: Light
The shadows have lengthened and creeps in earlier every day now as we slide toward the winter solstice that arrives December 21, (at precisely 5:48 pm CST). We miss the light as nighttime comes earlier and earlier.
My three year old granddaughter, Natalie, recently reminded me of how scary shadows can be. During the Thanksgiving holiday, my family gathered at my mother-in-law’s home. That meant that my husband and I and my son and his family all piled into the three bedroom home. Natalie is the only preschooler I know who wants the room completely dark when she sleeps. That’s because, when light creeps in, shadows materialize in the darkness. That happened while we were there and terrifying screams pierced the quiet of night. The next morning, we were all groggy from interrupted sleep, but Natalie was all better and all smiles, when the sun came up and the light shined. She took Granny’s flashlight and pointed to the ceiling where the shadows haunted her the night before. She directed her beam to the ceiling fan and told us all, “That was a big one there.”
We can giggle about the childish fears of a three year old now (not at 3:00 am). The experience reminded me to be thankful for the light. And most thankful for the Light that has come into the dark and dying world. We live in expectation during the Advent season of the coming of Christ. We celebrate and remember as we light our candles. We remember that Jesus came into a dark world to bring a bright light. We no longer have to live in a scary, shadowy world. We can rest peacefully knowing he is always with us. So, sweet little Natalie, you can sleep peacefully and trust that all is well. Thank you for the reminder.
Wednesday in the Word
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
Words I Recommend
A Good Song - God, You're So Good Pause from your busy schedule and enjoy this simple but powerful worship song from Passion.
A Good Book - Shadow and Light. No wonder I’m thinking of light, shadows and darkness. I just started reading this book.
If you’ve read my words for awhile, you know that Tsh Oxenreider is one of my favorite authors. Want to join me and read along the next few weeks? What books do you enjoy reading during this special season?
Another Good Book - Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voscamp. She is another one of my favorite, extremely descriptive writers. This is a beautiful book you will treasure and share with your family year after year.
Lots of Good Advent Words Advent Words every day Sign up here and receive a new word and short devotional each day in your inbox to keep you focused on the meanings of the first coming of Christ.
A Final Word
Although I made it very clear that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (and it didn’t disappoint this year, except that my grandson shared his stomach virus with many of us. It was the gift that kept on giving for several miserable post-Thanksgiving days. Thanks, Elijah.) However, now we are in the Christmas season. And if you dig out of all the cultural consumerism clutter, you find hope. You find a baby in a manger. You find Light. And you find amazing music. I get to sing in a multi-generational choir at my church this coming Sunday morning. Come join us at First Baptist Duncan, OK. If you can’t, listen here to the gift of music we will enjoy together. Hope Is Here . Thank you, Pastor Steven. Take time to light a candle, light the darkness and worship often this season.
So very grateful for you this and every day.
Please share a good word with someone today.