Keeper

It has been said, more than the Jew keeping the Sabbath the Sabbath has kept the Jew. 

Lighting candles before the sun sets on Friday evenings is how the Jewish people honor God's command Exodus 20:8. Jewish people are known for keeping tradition. And picking up the practice of their tradition by distinguishing between the work-week and the weekend, the work-week and the Sabbath by lighting candles before sunset on Friday evening has communicated to a deeper part of me that has become an inner strength. It is what I look forward to every single week, and with each week passing the longing to do so deepens more and more in my heart.
I ask myself what is the significance, why has this beholden me so.

I cannot pretend to know or relate to the unfathomable atrocity that the Jewish people faced in our history.  All I can do is glean from the lessons of their strength and draw from the strength that has kept them for hundreds of years to this day.

With the striking of the match to light the candle-wick, what has beholden me translates into one word, "Keeper".

No matter what quandary, challenges or struggles I might find myself in, the Keeper has kept the keeper of lighting candles.