Morton Family Prayer- 1994

Lord,

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking of the family morning prayer, wondering what to say and how to say it.  I mean, how can you possibly put this morning and all of the love and feelings that are shared into mere words?  As much as I try each and every year, you can’t.  And then a few days ago, I heard song lyrics that came as close to expressing our Christmas thanks as I’ve ever heard.  So with apologies to Steven Curtis Chapman, I’d like to read them to you:

“In a one bedroom apartment on the humble side of town
There stands a little Christmas tree, looks a lot like Charlie Brown's
And underneath there's one little gift for him and one little gift for her
After six months on the new job, they're still barely getting by
So in the way of decorations, there's nothing there to catch your eye
But both of them would be the first to say
We're together, we're gonna have the merriest Christmas anyway

'Cause Christmas is all in the heart, that's where the feeling starts
And like a fire inside, it touches every part
'Cause Christmas is all in the heart
And even if no white snow falls, that's all right because
The joy can still be found, wherever you are
'Cause Christmas is all, all in the heart

Two little blonde haired boys with big dreams, tried to sleep but sleep wouldn't come
We'd be tearing into presents, long before the break of dawn
With Mom and Dad and cameras making sure we'd never forget that day
Now I'm the one who's taking pictures, in the middle of the night
Of my own blonde headed dreamers that just can't wait until daylight

And in my sleepy eyes the spark still glows
Well I guess there's just some things a kid never outgrows

No, it's not in the snow that may or may not fall
And it's not in the gifts around the tree
It's in the love heaven gave, the night our Savior came
And that same love can still be found wherever you are
'Cause Christmas is all in the heart
And the joy can still be found, wherever you are
'Cause Christmas is all, all in the heart
It's all in the heart”

Amen