It started shy – a gentle flame
That almost blushed to burn;
Then steadily it grew and grew –
To stretch, it seemed to yearn.
But as the hours flickered by
It waned to a soft glow;
And as I lingered close, I thought:
“Quite soon now, it must go.”
However – much to my surprise –
It burned and burned and burned,
And as the hours simmered on
The more I found I learned:
No matter if your flame is small,
Your fire not so bright;
No matter if your wick starts short –
You still can be a light.
In the midst of darkness
Even small flames make a stand,
So if you can’t shine very bright,
Shine as brightly as you can.
The race may go to the strongest,
The prize to the most fit;
But I want my history patterned by
The flame that wouldn’t quit.
Now sometimes one must give things up
In order to move on,
And sometimes one must let things go
In order to grow strong.
But this flame, it flickered in my mind
And glowed deep in my soul;
And I knew, one day I’ll have to be
The flame that wouldn’t go.
For trials lead to endurance,
And character follows suit,
Which then in turn produces hope –
A rare and precious fruit.
So I will burn with the same flame
With which I had been lit;
And may I ever, ever be
Like the flame that wouldn’t quit.
Grace Toh –
is the Editor of Methodist Message and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church. She owns a candle collection that is probably larger than it needs to be.