In Gentle Ways

I miss dealing with inmates as I had not gone back to work due to a struggle with some powerful people used to intimidating workers who they deemed would not be useful for their purposes. However, if I had time with my family before even when I was working, I’m even more grateful to the Lord that despite this trial, He grants me more quality time with my family, especially with my child.

Breakfast is always a special time between us (as my husband leaves early for work). I try to keep the house quiet, just the kitchen filling with the aroma of toasts, or warming up hash browns, pancakes if he feels like having that or some scrambled eggs. I love lighting up tea lights and in the wee hours of the morning, it gives me some comfort to see the soft, bright glow that illuminates the familiar surroundings.

“It’s still dark, Mom. Can we turn on the kitchen light?” my son asked when he was descending the stairs, his backpack straddled over his shoulders. He saw two tea lights glowing in the middle of our kitchen table.

little glow that calms me every morning

“But don’t you like it?”

“It’s peaceful and there’s just enough light. How about I light up more of the tea lights?” I requested, as I got hold of the lighter and lit up some more. Brightness filled the tabletop and the breakfast that waited emerged to our naked eyes.

“There you go!” “Don’t you love it?”

lighting up all of them

“Yes, Mom. It’s better now and I can see well.” (Trust me...it was well-lit despite the dark picture I posted).

As he coated his scrambled eggs with a little catsup, I initiated the morning pep talk he’s used to hearing from his mother. As he put the fork into his mouth and stared at the tea lights, I told him that one tea light was his dad, one tea light was me, the other was him. How beautiful it must be if we share the Lord’s light together, just like with other believers letting their lights shine in this dark world. How bright this world would be!

He smiled as he took a few more bites and understood what I was telling him. He knew where I was going to, that here in this dark world believers are to reflect God’s Light in gentle, caring ways, not in harsh ways. Believers are called to share the Gospel with those who are still living in the dark. With gratefulness of being able to see, one can’t help but share that anyway among those who still can’t.

¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

~ 1 Peter 3:15-17 (NIV)

“You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” – Psalm 18:28 (NIV)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)