MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!
This is a very sacred time of year for sharing our faith, communion with others, and stillness and contemplation of another year that has almost passed yet again.
My prayer for all of us is to remember the true meaning of this beautiful season. This season is a celebration of faith and the gift of our Savior that has come into our world to spread His beautiful light to all of us and into a hurting world that needs a hope of an eternal future.
Let us remember to spread the light that we have received from our Lord to all of the world. A world that needs love, peace, and the light that shines from within our hearts into a world that is not always beaming with light. Let His Light guide us and protect us on our journey today and every day ahead!
Please watch this beautiful short video made by an artist living in Sweden. She is portraying the message of light on a dark night.
In Sweden on December 13th, St. Lucia Day is celebrated. This Advent day is to honor the young Italian saint known as the "Queen of Light." Lucia (now known as St. Lucia) is called the queen of light because she was willing to give up her life to honor Christ, despite the fear of persecution for her faith. Lucia boldly held the light of Christ during a time in history that was very dark, in the 3rd century AD. During this time in history, it was against the law to be a Christian. Lucia was martyred for her faith on December 13th, 304.
The Swedish celebrate the sacred day of St. Lucia because she saved them from a terrible famine in the Middle Ages.
During this time, one night on the darkest night of winter, a boat approached the shores of Sweden. At the head of the ship, stood a beautiful maiden dressed all in white and glowing with light. When the boat reached the land, it was filled with huge sacks of wheat, enough to provide more than enough bread for everyone to eat all winter long. The Swedish people attributed the provision and the return of the light to the Italian St. Lucia, whom they knew provided for the poor.
May this lovely video bless you and inspire you to be a light. Remember it only takes one candle to light up the darkness.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.
So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Ephesians 5: 8-9 (NLT)
May your Christmas and New Year ahead be filled with many blessings of love, peace, joy, and light!
Love and Light to All!
Warmly,
Rhonda Larson
