Family Faith

A Family Candlelight Dinner
My family and I were talking once about how Jesus told us, "You are the Light of the world!" We decided that this means that Jesus has given each of us special gifts. These gifts grow as we share them with other people. To remind us that we are the light of the world we decided to have a candlelight dinner. We gathered around the table. Each of us held a unlit candle. We read from the gospel of John 1:1-5.

In the beginning was the Word,
And the Word was with God,
And the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
And without him nothing can be.
What came to be through him was life,
And this life was the light of the human race;
The light shines in the darkness,
And the darkness has not overcome it.

We then lit a large candle that had been placed in the center of the table and we read from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit;
to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another mighty deeds;
to another prophecy; to another discernment of Spirits;
to another varieties of tongues;
to another interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

We then called each family member by name. As each name was called, the person came forward and lit his or her candle from the candle in the middle of the table. We thanked each person for a special gift that he or she gives to others, for example, patience, kindness, cheerfulness. My husband and I then blessed each of our children by placing our hands on each one's head as we said, "Bring more light into the world."

We then listened to the Gospel of Matthew 5:14-16.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

I felt like 100,000 candles were lit in our dining room! May our love continue to shine.

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