Light Your Candle and Celebrate

by | Apr 28, 2024 | Celebration, Praise

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NLT)

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love he will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)

I love candles, I love the smell and the ambiance they create. But the fact is I wait for special occasions, like company coming or welcoming my kids when they come home to enjoy the extravagant treat. I sometimes have had to dust off the tops before I could indulge in the dancing flame that flows from the colorful wax. Much time goes by as they lay in wait for that grand occasion.

Because our grandparents were married 100 years ago this year my cousin, Sharon decided that we should have a reunion to celebrate that occasion. I had wonderful talks with this friend leading up to this gathering about everything from our sometimes checkered ancestry to what is important in life. In many conversations, we would finally conclude that we should do what makes us happy in the now and not wait because we never know how much time we have. Her beautiful flame flickered brightly in my life as it always has as she used her many years of living to bring understanding to us both as we took on the cares of the world. As I look back on the last couple of months and the meeting of hearts that took place, I witnessed her flame burst forth in love as we talked about life, death, and what the bible says about heaven. The glorious ambiance that enveloped us both could only be God-given. We shared concerns as well as a love we had for our Savior. We laughed about times gone by and was hearkened to joy by the thought of our Lord. A few days ago this beautiful flame went out here on earth but I’m sure it burns brightly before the throne of our Father.

This morning as I stumbled down the stairs in the black of night for my quiet time with my precious Lord, my mind went to Mary Sharon Ryan my life-long friend the precious blessing the Lord bestowed on me. I lit candles because as my sweet cousin would say, every day is a special occasion and is worthy of celebration and a time to worship our Savior. In my mind’s eye, I see her flame reflecting on the streets of gold as she entered the City. I hear the Lord say, ”Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

As for me, I no longer say, “Whoever dies with the most candles, wins” I pledge to light those candles in celebration of yet another day God has given me to tell about His unfailing love.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NIV)

Then someday, I will join her in that wonderful place the Lord has gone to prepare for us and my forever friend and I will talk for all eternity. 

Mary Sharon Ryan
1940-2021

Hallelujah, she’s home!
“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.” (Psalm 107:2 NIV)

Jeanie Nihiser
Author, Prayer Warrior, Answers2Prayere Ministries

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Light Your Candle and Celebrate

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