Upon a shelf in our dining room
sits an old oil lamp from days long past
I remember the glow of it fondly
and the sweet light it could cast,

It belonged to my mother in law
for they had no electricity
for years it lit dark corners of their house
and was welcome sight for late company.

I remember Harley telling me
how they readied the lamps for the night
how they trimmed the wicks
so as to give a better light.

then filling the lamps with oil
prepared for the evening- tide
how one would light their way to bed
and others for all the rooms inside.

it set on the dining room table
the center of the room for them
the kids would sit with books open
study by the lamplight back then.

Lamps filled with oil
wicks trimmed and ready for use
turn the wheel for adjusting the flame
for a time you would choose.

I thought of this the other evening
with storms threatening to darken the night
there was the old oil lamp ready
for the time it would be our light.

What I learned from the lamp
its like unto the Holy spirit inside
its ever faithful and ready
when given room to abide.

and so like the oil in the lamp
He will burn bright from the heavenly oil
to light dark places in our life
and help in times of earthly spiritual toil.

the darkness will enfold you
if the lamp you didn't light
like not giving the Holy Spirit the tools
to fight for you - the good fight.

You can sit in the dark
if you forget to turn the latch
in order to set the flame
but you must first strike the match.

As with the Holy Spirit of your life
he is ready to be of service for your need
the oil is of little use
if the flame you do not feed.

sandy grififn
3/14/2006

sandra Griffin
Author of: "God in My Attic"
ISBN: 1594533881
http://www.our.homewithgod.com/sandra
http://storypen.com/inhimthroughhimforhimsandy
http://poetrypoem.com/inhimthroughhimforhimsandy