'The light of the world'

When our children were very young, we read the Christmas nativity story from picture books, then from the Bible. Later, when the girls brought friends home for the holidays, including those with faith traditions that were different from our own, we welcomed the opportunity to broaden the scope of our celebrations. We found new ways that were both respectful and inclusive to recognize and acknowledge the true meaning of Christmas.

One mid-December a few years ago, I came across an article I had saved in my Christmas files. It told of a family and their friends who gathered in a large room during their Christmas celebrations, turned off the lights, and handed out unlit candles. In turn, they were invited to share with the group something they were grateful for, after which they could light their candle. This feast of good thoughts went on until the whole room was illuminated (“A gathering of light,” Sarah C. Nelson, Sentinel, December 23, 2002).

I loved this idea! It seemed a perfect way to include even our youngest grandchild in thoughtfully acknowledging the meaning of Christmas. This candlelight expression of gratitude has now become a tradition in our family, along with the gift-giving, special meals, and decorating. When we light our candles, we talk about Jesus’ saying, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14 ), and how he proved to be the greatest example of that light.

Jesus’ healing and teaching brought the light of Christ to the darkness imposed by sickness, lack, and sadness. He also offered a “new” commandment: “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12 ). Like our expressions of gratitude, those declarations add light to our gatherings.

We found new ways to recognize and acknowledge the true meaning of Christmas.

One Christmas, as our festivities were drawing to a close, with tired children ready for sleep, our then seven-year-old granddaughter remembered that she wanted to share two songs from her school holiday program. Each song had accompanying hand movements. As she began her performance, her preschool brother wanted to join in. She was immediately distressed, and for a few moments it appeared that a harmonious day might end in tears.

At this point our daughter asked our granddaughter whether she could think of a way her brother might be included. At first this seemed impossible, since he didn’t know the words or the hand movements. However, his favorite activity at that time was playing drums, no matter whether the beat was created by sticks on a hollow tree stump or by hands on a box. So, after a few moments, his sister told him he could provide the rhythmic accompaniment. He immediately turned over a box (handy from gifts) and started drumming as she began to sing. He played his “drum” with such enthusiasm and joy that it was as though a spark of light had ignited the entire room.

His sister found as much joy in her brother’s delight as in her own performance. Each one of us felt the room had been illumined with the warmth of the light of Christ—the presence of all-embracing, all-inclusive Love. That evening we all learned fresh ways to let our light shine and love others.