The Four Candles

This week, Sr. CeAnn’s reflection for St. Augustine employees is the story of the four candles: peace, faith, love, and hope.

The Four Candles
(Author Unknown)

The Four Candles burned slowly.
Their ambiance was so soft you could hear them speak…

The first candle said,
“I am peace, but these days, nobody wants to keep me lit.”
Then peace’s flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

The second candle said,
“I am faith, but these days I am no longer indispensable.”
Then faith’s flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

Sadly, the third candle speaks,
“I am love and I haven’t the strength to stay lit any longer.
People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They
even forget to love those who are nearest to them.”
Waiting no longer, love goes out completely.

Suddenly…a child enters the room and see the three candles
no longer burning. The child begins to cry, “Why are you not
burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end!”

Then the fourth candle speaks gently to the little child,
“Don’t be afraid, for I am hope and while I still burn,
we can re-light the other candles.”

With shining eyes the child took the candle of hope and lit
the other three candles.

Never let the flame of hope go out of your life. With hope,
no matter how bad things look and are, peace, faith and love
can shine brightly in our lives.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.” John 8:12

Thank you for your light that shines in the darkness of the world, giving us hope.