Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
by Carie Moore
As I walked out of the house the other day, I reached up to shut the light off above the stove. I never do this. I am the mom who learned from her parents, the baby boomers, that everything needs to be off before you leave, and I stick to it. But that one light is rarely touched in their home or ours.
I remember thinking at the time, “Oh, we’ll be home before dark tonight,” but I also thought, “Why would that matter?”
That light stays on. Day or night, winter or summer, harvest, seeding, 4-H, church, school activities, we NEVER shut it off. For you it may be the light above the sink or a small lamp, but it’s so much more than just a light to see when you get home.
It means “Welcome.” No matter who you are – family, a neighbor or the UPS man with a large package when no one is home and it’s raining outside so they graciously put it inside – the golden glow in the kitchen serves as a way to see, no matter the time.
It means I love you. If you are a child coming home past curfew, the family member or spouse coming in after a late night at work or in the field, the light means we missed you and we care about you and we’re glad you are home safe. For the volunteer first responder who runs out immediately as the page comes in, it’s the last and first thing he or she sees when they leave and return.
It means we value and appreciate food and nourishment. This light serves as a guide to how much seasoning and ingredients go into what is being cooked to nourish at the table, the potluck, the bake sale, or a late-night snack.
It’s a reminder to clean. It never fails to remind there are flies in the house and dirt that always comes in from roads that surround the house.
It brings focus. As we tire and age, this light serves as an aid to help clear our vision as we read medicine doses, daily mail, school papers, contacts that need signing and daily devotions. Many conversations have been held in this light, bringing directo to relationships and circumstances.
It means comfort: For the little one who gets up in the night to go to the bathroom, needs a drink, or for those who don’t feel well and are making a mad dash for a bucket. It’s on when the middle-of-the-night call comes in, giving news that will change your life forever, so you are not sitting alone, in the dark.
It means faith. The light is an example of letting our light shine so others can see what we represent. Nothing can hide in the shadows of darkness here. It means faith that all will return home, if not to this home, their eternal home where the light too is always on, even brighter, and never needs replacing.
Most importantly, it means this is a home, not just a house. No matter what needs to be fixed, replaced, or done, when the light bulb goes out, it has priority and a new one gets put in. You know immediately upon waking or come home that something isn’t right. Simply because it means all these things. They’re big things. They’re things that give us peace and security in our lives. We value these things.
So please, keep your light on and if you don’t, maybe this is reason enough to start.