The Lesson of the Broken Candles

 

Have you ever had one of those mornings? Of course you have…

Yesterday started out as one of those mornings. Not initially for me, but for one of the Littles.

I’m still not adjusted to the hour time change and have been waking up in the 4’s. Even for an early riser, 4:00 am is way too early. But, so it goes. After finishing my Bible study lesson and prayer time, I puttered around the sleeping house and remembered a bag of candles stashed in the laundry room closet. A month or so ago, the Littles and I used a coupon at Yankee Candle to buy several fall candles to give as gifts. I was feeling quite grateful that I actually remembered this purchase and pulled out candles for the girls to give to their teachers.

At some point during the morning madness one of the Littles grabbed the lid off the candle intended for her teacher and the whole thing snapped and shattered. She was crushed and immediately spiraled into tears and sorries. Which, of course, broke my heart. First, the break of the Yankee Candle jar was a fluke. She didn’t drop it, throw it, or in any way intentionally or unintentionally break the candle. I’m truly not sure how it actually cracked. Second, the shards of glass broke my Little’s spirit.

Luckily, we had a candle to spare. I reassured my tender hearted Little that her teacher would love this candle, maybe even more than the first. We wiped tears, swept up slivers of glass and headed out the door for school. Which was also a comedy of errors. Half way en route, another Little remembered a book left on the shelf back home. We took one for the team, returned home, then traveled in a brisk manner (but not speeding!) back for a 7:40 am drop off with book and candles in tow.

As the candle bearing Little made her way out of the swagger wagon, it happened. I heard it first and my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. She dropped the second candle. As God would have it, her teacher was at carpool drop off and I was able to share with her that this was actually our second broken candle of the morning. In a grace-filled moment we all assured my sweet Little that all was well and not to think another thought about the broken candle. We forced a laugh and I mused something about how our light was clearly not meant to shine in the form of a broken Yankee Candle. And as God would also have it, He immediately corrected me with the reminder that is exactly how He meant for our light to shine. From our brokenness.

We are all broken vessels. Imperfect pieces and fragments made right by the redeeming grace of our Savior who is the light of the world. Jesus meets us in our brokenness, it’s why He came. It’s in these broken, imperfect pieces of our lives that He is strong and the light of His glory can shine.

Last night, after talking through the lessons we learned, my Little decided to go ahead and give the broken candle to her teacher anyway. Her teacher will understand. In fact, I have a hunch the candle will mean more to her broken today than it would have perfect yesterday.

Did you know the Yankee Candle Company names its candles? The name of the first candle that broke yesterday was Be Thankful. The second? The Harvest. Whatever its name and regardless of its condition, carry your candle and hold it out for all to see.

Take your candle and go light your world.

Love,