The Advent candles

A printed story she kept in her recipe book.

Author unknown

All four candles on the Advent wreath had been lit. Around them all was quiet. Had anyone been near, they would have heard the candles talking to each other.

The first candle sighed and said: “I am the candle of peace. My light shines, but people do not live in peace with one another. They don’t care about me at all!” The light of the first candle grew smaller and smaller until it went out completely.

The second candle flickered and said: “My name is faith. But I am quite unnecessary. People don’t care about God; they want nothing to do with him. There is no point in my light.” The strength of the candle called faith was spent. A small draught was enough. Its light went out.

In a low, sad voice the third candle spoke: “My name is love. But I have no strength left to let my light shine. People have pushed me aside. They see only themselves, and not their neighbour who needs love.” With those words, the third candle went out.

A small child came into the room where the Advent wreath stood on the table. With tears in its eyes it said: “I don’t like it when you are out.”

Then the fourth candle answered: “Don’t be afraid, dear child. As long as I am burning, we can light the other candles again. My name is hope.” The child’s face lit up with joy as it used the light of the candle of hope to light the candle of love, the candle of faith and the candle of peace. When it had finished, the child said, as if to itself: “Now Christmas can really come.”