Light in the darkness

My neighbors stopped by today to drop off their Christmas card. In it they wrote:

One of the mysteries of Christmas is how grace, like light, shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.

This image has been walking around with me today. I see candles, small and flickering, but a beacon still in the dark.

And this reminds me of the way I hold joy and sorrow. Joy, pure and shining, warding off the dark and still of itself. Sorrow pushed back some by the joy but still present, still surrounding. They touch each other, yet don't destroy each other.

Thank you all for being a light in my darkness especially during these last few days.