A Prayer for Peace in Extended Family
Prince of Peace,
Only with your help
will this Christmas be different
in my extended family gatherings.
Teach me peacemaking
to replace my peace-stealing
this year.
A Prayer for Peaceful Memories
Prince of Peace,
I invite you into my family’s Christmas memory making:
songs and silly stories
decorating and dressing-up
baking and feasting
picture-posing and game playing
wrapping and unwrapping.
A Prayer for Peaceful Expectations
Prince of Peace,
In my Pinterest world
I pin and post in preparation for perfection.
In my conflict-laced world
I skate on the surface of denial.
In my Grinch-threatened world
I bury my dreams inside disillusion.
But I can’t stop longing
for a peaceful Christmas.
A Prayer for Peace in the Overwhelm
Prince of Peace,
Meet me today
in the Christmas overwhelm:
piled-up
cookie sheets, papers, emails
messy
trash cans, floors, bathrooms
disorganized
counters, purses, decor.
A Prayer for Peaceful Beginnings
Prince of Peace,
You came as two cells united
as all of us begin
woven together
in the most mysterious way.
You formed in the darkness
of a young girl’s womb
listening to peaceful rhythms
of heartbeats, blood
pumping, and murmuring voices.
Your presence a light
in darkness