Tonight I am grateful to God for a day of rest and lighting candles with my daughter.
My youngest daughter (18 months) wanted to light the candles today, so daddy started by lighting the middle candle and she lit the remainder.
She can't really talk yet, but I could tell she was very happy to be in charge of lighting the candles.
It's been a long week, we were happy to sleep in today and recharge.
Daniel was up a lot last night, so we have a tired daddy and mommy today. But we took it easy and spent some time in bed resting while the children took their naps. My wife and I listened to the entire 2.5 hour audio of 1 Maccabees. If you have a spare a couple of hours check it out below (it's as long as Star wars Episode 8).
The Maccabees
What's interesting is how the Dedication happens early in the story. I figured it would the be happy ending, but no, it happens in chapter 4. And no mention of the miracle of oil. These are the ancient words of historical record:
They rose early on the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month that is, the month of Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar for burnt offerings that they had made. On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had desecrated it, on that very day it was rededicated with songs, harps, lyres, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers and furnished them with doors. There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace brought by the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and his brothers and the entire assembly of Israel decreed that every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Kislev, the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary. 1 Maccabees 4:52-59
Praise Heaven with song and reverence and bless the Most High!
This is 54 of 70 of the #gratefulvibe challenge by
