Thanks to Chris Steenhoek for giving me this lovely poem along with some scented candles a few days ago. I hope you like it as much as I do. I do not know where it came from or if it has a title, but I thought it was so wonderful that I wanted to share it with you.

Once upon a time, many, many years ago, an old cobbler and his wife lived in a tiny cottage in a village in Austria. This humble shoemaker had few worldly possessions but whatever he owned he would always share with others. Symbolic of this generosity was a lighted candle he placed in the window of his cottage.

Every night this light would shine forth as a welcome sign to any weary traveler. Over a period of years, war, famine, and near destruction fell upon this little village. Never once did the little candle fail to send forth its beam as a message of hope and cheer. Hardships and losses came to the village and yet, through all this trouble the village cobbler and his wife suffered far less than any other villagers. It seemed there was a magical charm guarding these two.

Discouraged and weary, the village peasants gathered one evening to discuss the cobbler's fortune. "Surely there is something special about him. . . he is always spared our misfortunes." "What does he do that we do not do?" "Perhaps it is his little candle," said one of the villagers. "Let us put a candle in our window too." Now it so happened that the day of this meeting was the day before Christmas. . . the first night that a candle was lighted in the window of every home. The candles burned all night.

When morning came it seemed as though a miracle had happened. A soft mantle of snow covered all the village, and an air of hope filled the hearts of the villagers. Before the first ray of the morning sun had cast its gleam upon the snow, a messenger rode into the village. He brought the great news that peace had come.

The tiny silver church bells chimed as the people knelt in prayer. The peasants were in awe: "It was the candles," they whispered. "They have guided the Christ Child to our doorsteps. . . we will always light our candles on His birthday.

And now, many, many years later, this beautiful custom has spread all over the world. . . sending forth a message of love, hope, and cheer that will never grow old. . .

May these small candles guide the Christ Child to your doorstep this Christmas season!! May God bless you and your family! Merry Christmas.

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