As a new year begins and we say goodbye to all that 2020 held, I find myself returning to the lesson of a lit candle.
For years, I stored half a dozen candles in a cabinet, always waiting for a “better day” or the “best time.” Each unlit wick told the story: at some point along the way, I began to act as if candles are only meant for parties, celebrations, or magical moments. Regular life was extra ordinary — rarely extraordinary — and so they sat gathering dust day after day, month after month.
Instead of savoring them, I saved them. And then in the middle of one of those regular days, two questions began to stir inside, refusing to let go while gently offering a new lens to look through: What if I chose to live like the ordinary of right now is beautiful? What if I slowed down long enough to appreciate the small things, to count each one as grace?
Nothing about my circumstances changed, yet everything, even the candles stored away in a cabinet, suddenly held a hint of possibility and promise. While I waited for a “better” day, grace patiently waited for me to open my eyes and accept the invitation to slow down, see, and savor the small gifts that were hidden in plain sight.
They were always there, as easy to find as a child playing hide-and-seek, the curtain shaking with giggles as tiny toes stick out underneath.
For far too long, I overlooked the beauty of the ordinary while waiting and wanting for something more, something bigger, something better. It wasn’t until I began to see there’s always meaning in the mundane and glory in what seems common that I reached for the lighter and watched wisps of smoke waft into the air.
It’s simple and it’s small, and much like using the “good china” for a regular Tuesday evening meal, lighting a candle won’t change the world. But it changes how I see the world. Maybe, in some small way, those are the same thing. Maybe, when looking through a lens of grace, the ordinary becomes extraordinary one flickering flame at a time.
Here at the beginning of a new year, after many months of collective heartbreak, change, and loss, it’s a lit candle and a now-empty cabinet that remind me of an old truth: Light is always breaking through, and even in the dark, there is One who is making all things new.
In Matthew 5, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
The God who often chooses the small things (1 Corinthians 1:28) paints a picture with everyday household items, calling us not to hide or to worry or to wait for a better day, but to be a light in the darkness in the most ordinary of ways.
Lighting a candle is not the answer to all our problems. It won’t end world hunger, solve global warming, eliminate human trafficking, or provide a solution to a global pandemic. But when it seems like the world is going up in flames, perhaps the small and simple act of lighting a candle on a regular day is one way to push back the dark.
Maybe this right here is holy.
Maybe this is the better day, the special occasion.
No matter what this year may bring, may we savor the small things as we look through a lens of grace. Let’s light candles to celebrate, to lament, to mark this ordinary moment as worthy of beauty. After all, hope often grows in the dark, and Light always, always wins.
Kim Gibbens says
I love this! I have so many candles resting on tables and sitting in cabinets waiting to be lit. What a great way to acknowledge God’s presence in the midst of my ordinary day. Thanks, Kaitlyn.
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
I hope you’ll reach for the lighter and enjoy them today, tomorrow – all the days. I waited far too long!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Kaitlyn,
It’s so ironic that I read this shortly after I put a candle on our dinner table and have been lighting every night. It’s just my husband and me, and dinner may only be spaghetti, but we can “savor the small” in any situation. Maybe? we needed a 2020 to get our minds off the great and grandiose and simply be grateful for the everyday blessings. I woke up this morning. I’m breathing. The sun will rise shortly. Thank you, God!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Well of course you did, Bev! This made me smile. What perfect timing. Gifts in the ordinary: candles on tables and dinners together.
Linda Wilson says
I often light candles in my home! They just add a little something to my day!
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
I love that! Any particular favorites you keep on hand?
Madeline says
I have always lit candles around the house. After the 9/11 attack, a few of us put lights in all the windows of our small country church. And, while I no longer live in that town, those candles still burn in the windows to remind folks who drive by that there is hope and light even in the darkness. Today, I will light my candles as i have done so often.
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Hope and light… amen.
Ruth Mills says
I love the phrase “mark this ordinary moment as worthy of beauty”. I’ve challenged by crew to notice the taken-for-granted moments & people around them & see the beauty. Also encouraged them to light a candle at dinner even if it comes in a paper bag. ;~)
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Beauty hidden in plain sight. 🙂
Lydia says
Thank you for your words today! It reminds me of the song “go light your world” by Kathy Troccoli! God bless your 2021~
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
I haven’t heard that before! I’ll have to look it up.
Indiane says
I find myself home expectedly today – peppermint marshmallow here I come!
Thanks Kaitlyn!
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
I love this so, so, so much. Go get that peppermint marshmallow and enjoy it. 🙂 It’s the little things.
SHARON A says
After my husband died I realized how special every second of “mundane and rock ary” really is. And I love cabdles!! Thanks f or this reminder ☺
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Sharon, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope that in some way, there’s an unexpected gift in your day that you know what just for you.
Julie Ward says
The year 2020 was a hard year with the pandemic, losing my job and looking for a job w/o success probably due to my age. I will light a candle to bring light and hope for something better. Thank you for the candle story.
Irene says
Julie Ward, I am going to start praying today for your new job. May you be blessed greatly in the “in between” time.
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Echoing Irene’s words to you here. <3
Denise says
My word for 2021 is nurture. I want to nurture and care for the things that God has given me right now at this moment. I’m quickly learning that nurturing is linked to having gratitude and appreciation for everything. That even in the muck that 2020 provided, God provided more! Little everyday ordinary things in abundance!
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
“Little everyday ordinary things in abundance!” isn’t that true?! God, give us eyes to see.
Mary Geisen says
Thank you for this simple reminder to live out my life believing that everyday is special because I am here and God is with me.
Danita Jenae says
Lovely, Kaitlyn. It’s been a while since I lit my candles. Used to be my routine before making dinner. Thank you.
Bette says
Amen.
Louise Bell says
Wonderful devotion. My sister and I are both “purging” our homes..And even before we read this devotion, started to realize that saving stuff for a “special day” doesn’t really work! God provides SPECIAL moments many times in a week and we just need to realize the many blessings we have in an ordinary day..My husband and I are NOW using our wedding china every day.!!.Thanks for making our WEEK!!
Penny says
Beautiful reminder Kaitlyn. thank-you.
Blessings to all,
Penny
Leslie McCarthy says
Thank you for this, I had lit a candle just before reading it. I so appreciate your restraint in saying anything regarding political leanings, allowing all to be blessed and encouraged.♥
Stephanie says
Light always wins! Amen ❤️
Michele Morin says
I burn candles with abandon, but recently caught myself in this “reserved” mindset with my wedding and engagement rings. I rarely wore my diamond, thinking my daily chores would just be too much for it until one day I asked myself, “I’m 58 years old… What am I saving this ring for??”
The time to enjoy God’s good gifts is NOW!
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
I appreciate your words and perspective here, Michele!
Beth Williams says
Kaitlyn,
I love scented candles. I try to keep some in the bathroom & light them often. The light it gives off is just enough to shower with & I frequently use that time & place as my prayer closet. It is quiet with just me & God. We tend to think “good” stuff needs to be saved for that special occasion. God gives us “nice” items & He expects us to use them not hoard them for a special day. Each day is special in its own way. We need to be celebrating life more. Go ahead light candles, use the fine china, wear the diamond.
Blessings 🙂
Kathy says
I watched your instagram this evening before I got to my email to click on this devotion. You worried a lot about nothing 🙂 It is a lovely, timely devotion that we all need to look at the ordinary with a new lense. As I have also been purging the house, and getting back into it during these winter months of staying home, I have rounded up those candles to light so that I know where they are!! And trying to remember to light them when I am near and sitting down.
Now every time I light one I will think of you and this devotion, thank you for this.
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
I knew there was a possibility someone might assume light/dark is referring to politics or parties, particularly if they saw something on social media but didn’t read the full post. And there’s always the chance that talking about something else (literally anything else) could receive pushback for *not* talking about or be seen as skirting around current topics… I’m grateful that the comments here were kind (that is sadly not always the case) and social media was, mostly, the same! Here’s to appreciating the ordinary things on all the days.
Claire Phillips says
Hi Kaitlyn, this devotional would be wonderful to share with our congregation as a video and audio recording. It would be read by someone (who is recorded), then shared on our church’s Facebook account and on our Sermon by Phone line. May we have permission to do that, including giving you and Incourage citations?
Thanks and Blessings,
Claire Phillips
1st United Methodist Church
Deming, NM
Wendy Pieterse says
Absolutely beautiful. My candle is lit.
Dee says
Kaitlyn,
To echo Michele, ‘The time to enjoy Gods good gifts is now!’ Yes, we eat off of our wedding china every night to remind me that He is the God of good gifts. As a young child I grew up very poor, yet protected in the Fathers love for me. Jeremiah echoes this as well in 32:40-41. ‘I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them….I will rejoice in doing them good’ Oh, how glad I am that what makes the heart of Almighty God happy includes doing good for you and me!
Thank you a million times for this lovely reminder Kaitlyn.
Nancy Ruegg says
I often light a candle as I begin my quiet time in the morning, as a reminder that the Light of the world is with me to guide me as I study, pray, and then progress through my day. In the winter months we light candles and fairy lights most evenings to add a bit of cheer against the darkness. Life is too short to save candles for only special occasions!
Christine says
Kaitlyn this is SO powerful for me. I know my comment is late but I had to at least try to let you know how much this impacted me. I have put this into practice in my life for the past few years to help me get through the holidays. After losing my Mom a little over three years ago, I really struggled during the holidays. I felt the darkness in a very heavy way and I knew I had to fight it and I did these very same things you describe. Lighting candles with scents that brought me comfort, leaving soft white lights on my mantle to bring more warmth to the room, doing little things around my home to add little bursts of beauty that, yes maybe only I appreciate but that’s the point, to get the focus off of myself and see the beauty around me. I’ve never really been able to explain this concept to others the way you have here. I am sharing this with my small group tonight. Thank you! Be blessed dear Friend.
Christine
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Every time someone leaves a comment on one of our new posts, we receive an email as the author. So while it may be “late” on the site, it’s right on time in my inbox. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to write, to share here with me, and to share with your small group as well. That’s such an encouragement.
Bonita says
My spiritual director has asked me what keeps me from receiving Jesus’ love, as a way to discern what I should focus on for Lent and it occurred to me that most of the time the biggest hurdle is that I don’t take time to savour His love and what He has done for me. I think I might try to grab a cup of tea (or other beverage) and sit on my patio even for 5 minutes and just remember His love and try to receive it. Much like lighting a candle, I think that slowing down slightly and being aware can be really helpful for me, and really hard at times! Thanks for the encouragement!