A Family Christmas Prayer From Our Family To Yours

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 until the last couple years where he's taken the reins by himself.) 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 Heavenly Father,

Just as love brought Jesus to this Earth, love brings us together to celebrate You and Your blessings. I look across this room and see so many faces who have been blessed by You. You have brought us so many gifts for which we are grateful. Your patience and care has helped us through struggles and sorrows. Thanks to You, we celebrate this wonderful family, including those who are no longer with us. Thank You for letting them touch our lives and bless us with their love.

What used to be Christmas morning at Nana and Pop Pop's house has grown into generations of love and family. What an incredible legacy. I'd like to use this opportunity to read to you a prayer from those days. 40 years ago, in 1982, Grandpa read this prayer to the family on Christmas morning. 

Lord,

Christmas is again a time that brings us all together. A special time of joy and goodwill. A time when we give thanks, share gifts and look to you for guidance. A new generation is beginning, families are growing, styles and needs are changing. Please help us keep the closeness, the love, the respect and all the great things that are so special about our family. Times change, but the hearts and soul of people shouldn't. 

Times indeed change, but 40 years later, this prayer is as relevant today as it was then. It is a testament to the legacy of this family. Thank you, Lord, for letting us all be a part of it. It is one of the greatest blessings of all.

Amen