Each year on Christmas, I break from the country music news and reviews and share a little piece of our personal family experience. My grandparents met back in the 1930's and had three children. They had more children who then had more children. And each Christmas, that huge family gathered together at the Christmas holiday for family time, a meal and presents. It also included a prayer. What was originally written by grandfather, and then written by my father, then handed off to be written and read by me now has my own son doing the reading duties (with us co-writing it together.) These are each of those prayers going back many decades. For those that might find it of interest, I've archived many of them going back to the 1970's on a site that I put together HERE. From our family to yours, may this little message be a reminder to treasure each moment with your loved ones and not take any moments for granted. Merry Christmas.
Dear Lord,
How can we possibly share how grateful we are to have been placed in this room with a family so rich in love.
In great families like our own, no matter individual roles or circumstances, all members help each other to succeed. In John chapter 13, verse 34, Jesus tells us, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Appreciation for Him is actively showing love and gratitude for family members. And for that, we are eternally grateful for the support we have in this room.
We’ve been shown by example that those who believe and follow the family-first model are firmly committed to helping their family succeed. In good and bad times, which all families have, we’ve faithfully remained loyal to each other. Family members look towards our familial strength for love, support, and answers to our problems. We work together to resolve emotional, economic, and spiritual challenges. Family members strengthen each other when we follow God’s teachings and the example of Jesus Christ. We treasure this time we get to spend together as a result.
Strong families provide the necessities of life such as food, water, clothing, and shelter. But more important, in strong families we learn how to both give and accept love, be effective communicators, and be responsible citizens. We learn the values of honesty, integrity, sincerity, humility, and hard work.
Lord, thank you for this blessing of bringing each of us into this family. In some cases, blood brought us together. For others, it was the bonds of marriage or friendship. Together, we are all stronger and richer than being apart… and for that we are eternally grateful.
AMEN
How can we possibly share how grateful we are to have been placed in this room with a family so rich in love.
In great families like our own, no matter individual roles or circumstances, all members help each other to succeed. In John chapter 13, verse 34, Jesus tells us, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Appreciation for Him is actively showing love and gratitude for family members. And for that, we are eternally grateful for the support we have in this room.
We’ve been shown by example that those who believe and follow the family-first model are firmly committed to helping their family succeed. In good and bad times, which all families have, we’ve faithfully remained loyal to each other. Family members look towards our familial strength for love, support, and answers to our problems. We work together to resolve emotional, economic, and spiritual challenges. Family members strengthen each other when we follow God’s teachings and the example of Jesus Christ. We treasure this time we get to spend together as a result.
Strong families provide the necessities of life such as food, water, clothing, and shelter. But more important, in strong families we learn how to both give and accept love, be effective communicators, and be responsible citizens. We learn the values of honesty, integrity, sincerity, humility, and hard work.
Lord, thank you for this blessing of bringing each of us into this family. In some cases, blood brought us together. For others, it was the bonds of marriage or friendship. Together, we are all stronger and richer than being apart… and for that we are eternally grateful.
AMEN
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