Keeping the Lights Glowing
I am writing these words just after finishing my morning walk. That’s also when I took the picture that you see below.
To many people, this is just another morning. To me, my morning walk was just another walk. That all changed when I approached what you see in this picture:
My wife and I moved into the neighborhood in which we now live a little over five years ago. We were just getting to know the people in the neighborhood and were gradually becoming aware of some of the customary ways of doing things.
We had driven through this neighborhood during the holiday season a few times before moving here and had noticed that there was what might be described as a “commons area” in which a tree was lit. There were also other decorations in the area. We didn’t know who did the decorating. Truthfully, we didn’t really care all that much.
All of that has changed over the years. It didn’t take us long to get to know and appreciate the man who was primarily responsible for the decorations. He took great joy in decorating that area and his family seemed to be just as happy to pitch in and help.
Over the last few years he began to have a little more trouble getting around. His wife’s deteriorating health and mental condition have also demanded more of his time. Because of those things, his grown children have taken on more of the task of decorating that area for the holidays.
After it was already getting dark last night, I saw people doing something around that tree. I’m assuming that they were his children, but it was too dark to tell for sure. When they were done, the tree was lit and the holiday tradition continued. The lights were not on early this morning, but, when darkness falls again tonight, I’m sure that I will be able to look out of one of our windows and see the familiar lights again.
While this may be just another day to a lot of us, it is not just another day to the people who made the effort to continue a family tradition. Today is the day of the funeral for the man who got so much joy in providing something for others to enjoy. As the sign says, this was done in his memory.
I think I’ve learned something from watching what was going on last night and what I saw a few minutes ago as I finished my walk. I think I’ve learned (or been reminded) that I need to “keep the lights shining” from those who have gone before me. I need to try harder to emulate the good qualities of family members, fellow Christians, friends, etc. who are no longer with us. The things that they did to make the world a better place need to be a part of my life. If I can do that, then maybe when I’m gone, somebody can find something about my life that they will want to emulate.
I know that it is a little early for those “resolutions” that we make at the beginning of a new year, but maybe we all need to start considering one. Maybe instead of a resolution, we might adopt as a motto —keeping the lights glowing.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Phil. 1:3).
To Receive Every Article from A Legacy of Faith through Email for Free, Click Here
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
