Sarah Chur

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
John 1:5
 
Well into my adulthood, we always celebrated Christmas Eve with my big extended family on my dad’s side. After candlelight services, my family of six, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather at one of our homes. After the food was put away and the dishes were done (which took forever from a child’s perspective), we would all cram together as best we could into the room with the Christmas tree. Before we could open gifts, there would be a program. Someone would read the Christmas story from Luke, we would sing several Christmas hymns (always including a verse or two of Jeg er sa Glad), and then the kids each would be asked to stand up and recite their Christmas program parts from that year. Always at the end of this, my dad would announce that he, too, had a piece and would proceed to stand up and say his line from so many years’ previous: “Let’s all be little lights for Jesus.” This was always accompanied by his pointer finger held high, demonstrating the light.
 
This is a very different Advent season, and there’s no doubt Christmas will be different, too. In the dark of December, and in the depths of what's been a difficult year, how we can we, too, be little lights for all those we encounter: family, friends, teachers, colleagues, and one another?
 
Dear God,
Help us to have courage in the dark and help us to be lights for Jesus. Bring us hope, and remind us that after this long darkness, there will be light. Amen.
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