The Candle of Hope

Helen stood at her door, gazing drearily down the long empty corridor. The corridor was silent and lonely. "And it's a fortnight before Christmas week!" murmured Helen. Two chill little tears hung on her eyelashes. The night before--in the excitement of getting the classmates off with all the trunks and packages intact, Helen was not yet homesick. Now it seemed to pierce her very bones.

Helen was a senior student at Western Christian College. She was born in a country far away from the place where she had been staying for her schooling years. During these cozy December evenings, Helen only could hear the carols singing and the bells ringing and chiming. Then, the two chill tears slipped over the edge of her eyelashes.

"Exactly two years ago, I was having a good Christmas time with my parents, my siblings, and my church members, but now!" Helen groaned. Helen saw nothing except the snowy landscape, and the Christmas trees thumping through the door. Helen was still sitting inside the room, dreaming that her father would come to see her.

But suddenly she heard a loud rap at her door. She opened it and her candle shone on the postman standing outside in the snow. His eyes shone kindly in the light of Helen's candle. At last, Helen's father couldn't come to pick her up home. Helen only received her father's Christmas card, which ended all Christmas hopes and joys in her. In her hopelessness, Helen asked herself, "What if there were no Christmas?" and "What is the real meaning of Christmas? A variety of similar questions hindered in her mind...

Then, Helen went to bed at midnight wearily. Looking out the window, Helen noticed on bright, beautiful star shining in the eastern window. At this point, Helen thought of the star in the East that guided the wise men to the place where the babe Jesus was 2000 years ago. Helen was joyful when she realized the Holy infant is hope - the Candle of Hope - for her and for mankind of all ages. She no longer felt alone because "God is with her".

Today we are lighting the candle of Hope. God's Beloved Son was born to be our Savior. He died upon the cross to save us from the penalty of sin. He arose from the dead to give us eternal life. Let invite Him into your heart to bring you the Hope candle that will light your way. You can say a simple prayer by faith, "Dear God, thank you for giving us Your Only Son to be the fulfillment of our deepest desires and hopes. Guide us as we prepare to receive Him anew in our hearts. Amen."