Keep Christ in Christmas: THE LIGHT OF HOPE
One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized the other and ran away with it saying he could use it as a cradle when he had children of his own. So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bundle of them in her hands. No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had anyone given her even a penny. Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along, looking like the picture of misery. The snowflakes fell on her fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she regarded them not.
Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New-year's eve yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but could not keep off the cold. And she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches.
Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them. Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out- "scratch!" how it sputtered as it burnt. It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light. It seemed as though she was sitting by a large iron stove. How the fire burned! And seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo! the flame of the match went out!
The stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the half-burnt match in her hand.
She rubbed another match on the wall. It burst into a flame, and where its light fell upon the wall it became as transparent as a veil, and she could see into the room. The table was covered with a snowy white table cloth on which stood a splendid dinner service and a steaming roast goose stuffed with apples and dried plums. And what was still more wonderful, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled across the floor, with a knife and fork in it's to the little girl. Then the match went out, and there remained nothing but the thick, damp, cold wall before her.
She lighted another match, and then she found herself sitting under a beautiful Christmas tree. It was larger and more beautifully decorated than the one she had seen thru the rich merchant's glass door. Thousands of tapers were burning upon the green branches, and colored pictures, like those she had seen in the show-windows, looked down upon it all. The little one stretched out her hand towards them, and the match went out.
The Christmas lights rose higher and higher till they looked to her like the stars in the sky. Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it it a bright streak of fire. "Some one is dying," thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now in Heaven had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
She again rubbed a match on the wall, and the light shone round her; in the brightness stood her old grandmother, clear and shining, yet mild and loving in her appearance.
This story never fails to warm my heart and bring tears to my eyes. It may be a tragic and seemingly hopeless tale, but for me, it is also a beautiful story of hope.
True hope shines through in every little matchstick the girl lights. In the midst of her loneliness, hopelessness, and despair, she finds a moment of warmth and comfort by looking beyond her circumstances and holding on to the simple desires of her heart. Somehow, that tiny light gives her the strength to hope.
At a time when so much around us can feel overwhelming, tragic, and uncertain, sometimes all we need is a little light to remind us of God's promise of a better tomorrow. More often than we realize, it is in the midst of our greatest emptiness that we discover the deepest faith and the courage to hope.
Christmas is a season of hope. It reminds us to believe that the best is yet to come.
We may be looking forward to our Christmas bonuses. We may be planning a long and relaxing vacation. Our children may be excited about the gifts they will receive. But beyond all these, there is a deeper joy that comes from giving to those in need, being with the people we love, and finding peace in our hearts as we share God's love with others.
We need to place our lives, our future, and even the people we love in God's hands. We may not always understand His plans or His timing, but we can trust that He sees what we cannot and that His ways are always for our good.
May the story of The Little Match Girl remind us that our deepest longing for happiness, comfort, and peace can never be completely fulfilled by the things of this world. Ultimately, our hearts can only find their true home in God.
When we choose to hope in Him, even the darkest moments can be filled with light.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, may we continue to hope, to trust, and to surrender. For He is the true Light, and in Him, there is always hope.
What are you hoping for this Christmas season?
