My Joy: The Lamp.

My parents went to Jerusalem while my brother Adam was there last year. They brought back one of these oil lamps for each family. I then tucked it neatly away. But this week we are sitting each night as a family and reading in the New Testament about what was happening in Christ's life each day before the Resurrection. Which we will be celebrating on Sunday. Easter. We really wanted to have a more Christ centered Easter this year.

For Wednesday, the scriptures are silent about what Jesus did. So I used the parable of the 10 virgins tonight. AND! I got the oil lamp out. Perfect. The kids and I lit the lamp at 6 pm tonight. Then we watched as it burned. We sat at the table for dinner at 7:30 with all the lights off and the lamp burning. I filled the lamp just a little more so we could let it burn until mom and dad go to bed.

As we sat eating and watching the glow of the oil lamp, I taught the parable of the 10 virgins. We talked about the meaning for us today. That we are waiting for Christ to come. We need to keep our lamps filled just like the first 5 virgins so we will be ready when He comes. We talked about all the things we can do to keep oil in our lamps. Then my Isaac taught us something. He said, "The light will keep burning all the time when you keep filling it with oil. And it will shine forever...

just like an eternal family."

A moment of pure Joy! I love my eternal family. And I love the oil lamp. We will light it again tomorrow night while we eat unleavened bread and learn about the Last Supper.