"Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care"

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

My front porch with luminaries

the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes.
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
close by me forever and love me I pray.

Just a few of the 26 luminaries around our house

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And bring us to Heaven to live with Thee there.
-Lyrics to "Away in a Manger"

With recent events on the East Coast, I have prayed for those families who hold such grief in their hearts. And I have wanted to do something more. One idea I heard about was to light luminaries, 26 of them in memory of these "dear children" old and young who were killed. I live away from neighbors, streets or anyone who would see these lights but I know God sees and hears our prayers. So as I filled paper bags with sea glass for weight and lit 26 tea candles my heart felt such sadness, 26 lives gone. I felt gratitude for my knowledge of Jesus Christ and his role as a Savior and Redeemer. And I felt a call to love and care for my children, and all children even more.

May the families who mourn at this time feel of His "great redeeming love" and may each of us regardless of our place in life, also feel of that healing love. For I know that He heals all sorrow...
Kirstin