12.15.2007

Christmas Prayer


A Christmas 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 Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
(Robert Louis Stevenson)

I pull this out every year at Christmas when I am feeling most pressure -- to buy, to bake, to wrap, to organize, to clean and to plan. There is so much going on and it's so easy to forget what Christmas really means.

Reading this calms my soul, reminds me of what is important, and brings back the gratitude which really is there (it's just buried!).
Read it. I think you'll find peace too.

6 comments:

Jori said...

That was great Jan. Ryan and I were talking about this last night, it seems we can get caught up in every day living and forget what this life is all about.

Unknown said...

ooh, lovely! that's so sweet.

Melissa said...

This is one of my favorite pictures ever...thanks for bringing me back around to what's really important!!!

hoLLy said...

thanks for sharing that. we have had a really stressful/horrible time lately with stuff breaking down and sicknesses of every kind that we've just felt so stressed and unhappy at times. i need to focus on what is important and just try to remember that other people are worse off. we need to enjoy this time more. we're trying, we really are:) its supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, right?

Cammie said...

Thank you for the reminder. Today Cali asked me how I would like it if everyone forgot my birthday. I told her it would make me sad. Then she asked how do you think Jesus feels when everyone forgets his. Very deep. She's got a very good Sunbeam teacher.

Hacking it up said...

I love how grounded you always are! You are able to keep things in such perspective, and then are kind enough to reel the rest of us back in! Thank you! I love you!!