Mom Heart Moments #103

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

GWEN TODD WAS THE FIRST FRIEND who taught me the value of commitment and love as I worked alongside her in ministry. We are indeed like sisters. Some years ago, I had flown to Nashville a day early when scheduled to speak at an event, so we could visit at her home in Kentucky.

Except . . . Gwen didn’t meet me at the airport. I found out she was snowbound with her elderly mother, who was suffering with Alzheimer’s and quite frail, requiring Gwen’s constant care. They had been without electricity, lights, or heat for the past three days because of the storm! Another dear friend loaned me a car, and I began the drive to Kentucky. It was like a ghost town —no working stoplights, no store or streetlights anywhere, trees fallen in the road . . . As I finally reached her street, I saw a candle in the window of one house amidst a sea of darkness —a candle my friend had lit for me! So I eased into her driveway, knocking countless icicles off the bushes as I climbed out of the car. When I went to the door, there was my sweet friend, with candles aglow in the rooms beyond. She had found out I was coming through a very short cell phone message that had finally gone through after two days, and had some chips and cheese waiting for me —the last fresh package of cold food to be had.

What a fun memory we made eating by candlelight, storing up one more memory of adventure. How thankful I was to be of encouragement to her in the midst of feeling alone in the dark —as she has helped me through my own crises. We felt blessed to sit in our gowns, cuddled under piles of blankets, enjoying the candlelight and just being together.

How might you light a candle for someone today and enjoy its brightness together?