Tuesday, December 30, 2025

The Light Shines in the Darkness*

Just in the last few years, I have realized how much I like having additional light in the winter. Not lamps and light fixtures--although I have added quite a few of those to our home over the last eight years--but less-direct light.

I started putting up my Time Change lights about five years ago, just to illuminate the dim area between the kitchen and dining room. It does add a bit more light, but mostly it just looks pretty and cozy.


When I finish up the dishes at night and we're all in the living room, I like to turn off all the lights in the kitchen except these.

Just in the last few years, I've started using candles more, too. I started putting them on our table when someone donated a very large box of taper candles to our church that we couldn't use on the altar (because altar candles have to be majority beeswax, and these are paraffin). My children really love having the candles lit for breakfast if it's still dark outside, and always for dinner in the winter.

This year, I added a candle to the living room, too, thanks to the candle molds that Poppy and I used. The wax for this came from church, too. I actually ordered the molds because there was a big box of candle stubs that would have just been disposed of if I hadn't taken them to make into new candles.

Just that one small candle on the bookcase shining after it gets dark makes me very happy.


We made this one pink, with what I assume was an old Advent candle.

Small things, but they bring a disproportionate amount of satisfaction.

* "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." From the Gospel of John.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also like light. One of my favorite things in my kitchen is the tiny LED strip lighting between the upper cabinets and the countertop. LEDs in general don't provide enough light, so I need extras. And I truly love the remanufactured candles. It's been many years since we've had non-oil candles for church. And like electric lighting, not all candlelight is the same. — Karen.

Kristin @ Going Country said...

Poppy really wants 100% beeswax candles for the table. They're pretty expensive, but maybe next year I'll get some for the Christmas season. They really do burn with a much more pleasant and steady light than paraffin.

Anonymous said...

Candles are also a part of my fall/winter routine. I love the look and the the peace it invokes. I too was gifted a large box of tapers. I have been lighting them in a tall glass globe.