Burn the Candles

Have you ever been too busy to just enjoy what you are working for?

While doing some late spring cleaning, I came across a dozen or so fragrant candles that I purchased over the past year. They were in unique shapes and sizes and scents. Most were still in the original bags and shrink wraps, only a few were sitting around the house giving off faint fragrances because they were uncovered, though not yet burned.

I had to ask myself, what am I saving these for?

I don't entertain any more and after working, running, working some more and serving in various capacities throughout the day, I return home to spend nights alone.

In other words, I unhesitantly burn my own personal candle at both ends on a daily basis.

Then, I come across all these lovely candles that I just had to have, yet haven't found time to enjoy.

Why not? Am I simply waiting for all things to line up to enjoy a perfect evening, a special meal or a celebratory event?

Well, that hasn't happened, so I dust off the candles and keep waiting.

If you can identify in any way with this, I challenge you to join me and - Burn the Candles!

It's never going to be the ideal situation, the perfect conditions or special occasion for most of us, so stop waiting and Burn the Candles.

Enjoy them whenever you can - taking that bath, reading that book, studying, doing laundry, cleaning, paying bills - Burn the candles and enjoy the aroma, appreciate the calm it brings and allow the calm to remind you of how blessed you are.

Throughout the books of Leviticus and Numbers, in the Old Testament, when the people of God offered a sacrifice to Him for their sins, if it pleased Him, it emitted a sweet savour.

In Ephesians 5:2 as Jesus offered Himself the ultimate sacrifice for us, it says "He was a sweet smelling savour to God."

So, let the fragrance of that candle be a reminder to whisper a 'thank you' or a 'hallelujah' that our sins have been forgiven because of the blood that was shed for us.

Let the aroma remind us that we are blessed beyond measure for simply being able to smell it, to see, to hear - for these things, we sometimes take for granted ... until we see someone blind, deaf or mute.

Take time to burn the candle, to live life and not just go through life to end up wishing and saying - woulda, shoulda, coulda, instead of, I did it and I'm glad and I'm grateful, so I thank you, Lord!

Go ahead and Burn that Candle!