A Prayer for Christmas Joy

Prince of Peace,
Your joy rises like a spring
of life-giving water
on these weary winter mornings.

I gather more wood for the fire
gone cold in the night
and your joy catches flame
bringing warmth to all.

Your joy blooms bright
like my Christmas cactus
in red, magenta, white, champagne
needing these long, dark days
to stimulate its beauty.

Your joy soothes my sore
insides, as I sip hot tea
and read Revelation.

Saints dressed in white
wave palm branches and sing praises
to you on a glorious throne:
a glimpse of eternal Easter
to which all our joy points.

As the sun rises slow
and you paint the sky with color
I think of those saints now
resting in your perfect peace
where no sorrows can touch

and I remember
you are preparing a place for me.

As the winter world awakens
cardinals burst from thickets
their red coats bright sparks
of pure joy
against the dormant woods.

I praise you
for sprinkling joy all around me
and I ask for your Spirit
to open my eyes
to bright threads of joy
woven through all my days.

This poem-prayer was based on several chapters in my book:

Looking for more Christmas hope? Check out my book, Christmas Peace for Busy Moms, and my recent blog series, Trading Anxiety for Peace.

For the next three weeks of the Advent season, I’ll be sharing Advent prayers here on the blog. They will be short, easy reads to lift you up in your busy days. I’ll also have batches of book reviews for you on Tuesdays, in case you need some last-minute Christmas gift ideas.

Also, I’m SO excited that I will be featured on the (in)courage blog on December 23 with a special Christmas-themed post. I hope you’ll take a minute or two to read it on that day, and let me know what you think!

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