A Christmas Prayer
Christmas is meant to be a time of joyous celebration. But often we’re distracted by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season – weighed down by the cares of the world. At times we find ourselves simply going through the motions, without giving a thought to the true meaning of Christmas.
Jesus is the greatest Christmas gift of all! Through His birth and death and resurrection, He reconciled God and man. We no longer strain under the burden of our sin – Jesus paid the penalty for us – our hearts are clear and we rejoice! God’s love overcomes hatred and evil and enables us to love one another. His kindness to us inspires us to be kind to one another. We give gifts in remembrance of God’s greatest gift to us. Grateful for His forgiveness of our sins, we are moved to forgive others.
Reflecting on this glorious truth, author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the following prayer:
Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Laura Palmer
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