A Prayer of Christmas Surrender
Prince of Peace,
You are my shield
my sword
and my defender.
Even though I trace the wounds
from so many Christmas battles,
today I lay down
my time-worn fight
and surrender to you.
Prince of Peace,
You are my shield
my sword
and my defender.
Even though I trace the wounds
from so many Christmas battles,
today I lay down
my time-worn fight
and surrender to you.
Prince of Peace,
Overflow my heart
with your perfect peace
that I may share it
in all my surroundings
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.
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.
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.