CHRISTMAS fires and lights are as old as the story of the birth of
Jesus. The earliest form of lighting was the wood fire in the cave.
Around this light the ancients sat and told the stories of old. Around
the fire on the field of the shepherds, sat the ancient guardians of
the sheep, as they read from the holy parchment, of the "coming ONE"
and as they sat watching the dying embers of some such fire, were
startled by flash of heavenly light and heard the angels' song of the
new-born King. That was the first Christmas light. Ever since that
day, whenever the glad Christmas day approaches, lights, beautiful and
cheerful seem to shine out the glad light of the first Christmas day
and so from window on hill top or valley, from tree and toy room of
countless homes, the Christmas candle plays its happy part in the
drama of Merry Christmas. To illustrate this Christmas candle story,
construct a large background like the inside view of a window, and
place a tall candle in front of it. If the window cannot be erected
draw one on a blackboard or sketch one on a piece of muslin. If there
is a small window in the alcove of the pulpit platform in good sight
of the people, use that. Then tell the following story: A little
crippled child, in one of the back alleys of a great city, wondered
what she could do to brighten Christmas day for some one else. She was
too poor to give even "the widow's mite" yet she had a kindly heart
for other children poorer than herself. Her mother, with tears
dropping from her eyes, said "God had not made it possible for us to
do anything for the rest of the world except just to be glad and they
would both try to do that in the name of the little Lord Jesus, who
was once as poor as they." She remembered that in her own native land,
far over the sea, the children of her childhood always put a lighted
candle in the window (here light the candle in front of the window)
which sent out a cheerful light over the snow on Christmas. They could
do that, at least, and with a glad heart they lit the candle and
prayed "God bless the light." From the outside the little glittering
light looked like the star of Bethlehem. The darkness hid the ugly
surroundings of the dilapidated home and it looked supremely beautiful
on the "Night of Nights." A laboring man, hastening by to the corner
saloon, with his wages in his pocket, thinking only of himself and a
night of sin, saw the light in the window. Said he, "It is Christmas
eve" and all about him he saw, hastening to and fro, men and women
bearing Christmas gifts to the loved ones. It had been many a year
since he had made his little ones happy by Christmas gifts. He had
forgotten Christmas was so near until he saw the little candle in the
window. The light held him--a prisoner--It called him back--back to
his childhood days and the happy Christmas time he had spent in his
own home. His father and mother had taught him in the early days to
love God and keep His Commandments. He wiped away a tear--turned about
face as he looked again at the Christmas candle, and went home. They
had a Merry Christmas in that home that glad day, and the poor little
girl's Christmas candle blessed of God, brought the wayward son back
to God, home, and Christmas. Just across the narrow alley, a window of
a room, in which an old man, worn out with years, trying to sleep,
heard the snow beating against the window pane, arose and looked out
at the falling snow. As he did so, he saw the light in the window
across the way. That reminded him it was again Christmas eve. Not for
long years had he even given it a serious or religious thought. He had
lived for self alone because he was alone. His children had forsaken
him; wife had died long years ago, but somehow this light had "got
him" also. Memories of other years came back and rang the Christmas
bells of long ago. In his thoughts he was back to his childhood day.
How happy those memories made him feel. "Christmas back again" said he
as he looked again at this lone light in the window across the way.
"I'll put one in my window" and he relit the candle he had
extinguished as he slipped into bed. Another window with a candle in
it was shining out until, when midnight came, the dark alley was aglow
with lighted windows. The old man said as he closed his eyes in
slumber, "Tomorrow I will make the day merry for the little mother and
child across the way" and he kept his promise.
A lady of high degree and great wealth, passed by in her car loaded
with Christmas gifts, saw the little girl's Christmas candle in the
window. She stopped at the house, hurried upstairs, there she saw the
poor little girl trying to keep Christmas with one candle. The good
lady's heart was touched by the child's simple faith and beautiful
little deed, left for her toys and little comforts, that the dear
mother and little girl accepted with tears of joy. When Christmas day
came, the sleepers in the alley were awakened by the carol singers
chanting "While shepherds watched their flocks by night." Our little
girl who put her Christmas candle in the window was the happiest
little girl in the great city that day. Yes, and not that day only,
but the good lady, attracted by the candle, became a constant friend,
and in all the coming days helped her to win out in life's battle. So
it was Christmas day every day in that humble home, and the lone
Christmas candle in the window had been a candle blessed by God.