The Week of Hope
Light the candle of Hope, the purple candle.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Galatians 5:24
Father, you humbled yourself at birth in a straw filled manger and again as you hung on the cross. You humbled yourself for our sake alone. Lord, let us be as merciful and humble to others as you have been for us. Amen.
Thankful Drop Box. Have a special container with a slot at the top. (We use a cardboard snow man three-tiered box that once contained Christmas cookies.) Leave a stack of small slips of paper and a pen near the container. Encourage family members to write a note for something they are thankful for and slip it into the box. Names need not be included. On Christmas day, after dinner, take the slips out and read them to everyone. Save the slips in your Christmas scrap book.
Ice Candles. Collect a small plastic pail and a clean empty soup can, and go outside on your steps on a cold night. Place the can inside the pail in the center, and toss a few heavy stones inside the can. Fill the pail with cold water to just below the edge of the soup can. Allow to freeze. Pour a little warm water inside the can to loosen it, then remove. Run warm water on outside of pail, remove. Place a small candle inside the hole left by the can and set on steps or along sidewalk as candle lanterns.
(Supplies: water, soup can, plastic pail, candles, matches, stones) (Adapted from: Dennis Randall, Family Education, “Ice Candles”, n.d. <http://fun.familyeducation.com/>, (October, 2011)
Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert
A True Christmas 