I will light Candles this Christmas;
Candles of joy despite all sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,A
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all the year long.


Written by Howard Thurman who was born in 1899 and the grandson of a former slave.  He was an American author, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader who mentored Martin Luther King and was prominent in leading many social justice movements and organizations