she leans in close and lights the candle
as the world grows dim
but she is there
to shed light
and hold my hand
her words and her silence,
they both comfort me,
as she knows which is needed when
because
she knows
me
she claps her hands and
then grabs mine
she dances a jig,
leading me in a happy dance,
in celebration of the news
she is happy for me
because
she knows
me
she looks me in the eyes
and tells me not the words
that I so long to hear
but instead
the words
I need to hear
the ones that challenge me
to head out in the direction
I’m meant to–
not to stay here and rest
on my laurels and the couch
You can do it, she tells me,
because
she knows
me
she weeps alongside me
my pain is hers
she shares in my heartbreak,
my brokenness,
my loss
her tears mingle with mine
as she wraps her arms around me
and I lean in close,
comforted,
because
she knows
me
our days of riding bicycles
and writing plays,
playing softball
and making up games to play for hours
on end
are gone with the ticking of the clock,
the flipping of the calendar page
no more do we dream as we once did
our hearts know the true endings
and they aren’t always happy ones
and she wishes she could change
it all
because
she knows
me
and still
though we know the sadness sometimes wins,
that darkness has triumphed and can again
still
we light the candle
with the Hope that somewhere in the world
a sister will see it and find the strength to light
hers too
and then another and another
until the light shines through us all
and the darkness in our hearts is no more
she wants that for me, for her, for us
all of us
she loves and she is a treasure
far beyond
gold and rubies
and chocolate chip cookies
because
she knows
me
and being known
and loved
through everything
is the
greatest gift of all
Last night we lit the first candle on our Advent wreath–a precious tradition. This week the candle represents Hope. It is my hope that when one of us is hurting, another sister will turn to her and share her light until the one who is hurting is able to light her own. And no one will have to struggle in the darkness alone again.
Love and light to all.
I Might Need A Nap 