As we all know, we light one candle (in addition to the shamash) on the first night, two on the second, three on the third, etc. Although when we light one candle on the first night we have completely fulfilled the mitzva to the utmost perfection, lighting one candle on the second night is not sufficient. On the second night we must light two candles to fulfill the mitzva properly. On the third night, two candles are not adequate, though on the previous night they were, and so forth for each consecutive night of Chanuka.
The lesson that we can learn from the mitzva of Chanuka candles can serve us well not just during the eight-day festival, but during the entire year and our whole life as well.
The Chanuka candles teach us that our observance of mitzvot should be in an ever growing, steadily increasing measure.
One day I do a mitzva--I put a penny in a tzedaka (charity) box. A few days later I am continuing to put a penny in the tzedaka box. But, in addition, when I awaken in the morning I thank G-d that I am alive. And so it continues, every few days adding a new mitzva, or being more exacting in the mitzvot I already perform. Like the Chanuka candles, we grow steadily stronger each day.
And when we do this, we will also be like the Chanuka lights in another way--we will be spreading light, like a true light among the nations, all over the world.
