Saturday, December 25, 2021

Morton Family Christmas Prayer - 2021

Covid-19 had other plans for our 2020 Christmas dinner so unfortunately, we had to skip a year, our first missed family dinner in almost six decades. Here's our prayer for 2021:

Dear Lord,

We thank You for bringing us all together here tonight; to honor your son’s birth, to celebrate this wonderful family, and to remember those that paved the way to make this family so special.

For decades, this family has put on this incredible gathering to honor You and all that You have given us in family, fellowship, and friendship. We have incredible gratitude, and we reminisce fondly on all the lovely memories that You have provided us over the years. They become part of us and are a foundation for our lives.

Like the turning of the seasons, we have some new faces here tonight. We have also lost one along the way. Lord, we pray that tonight continues the healing of our grief. We pray that this family continues to comfort, and provide hope, restoration, and strength towards each other. Through second and third generations, you prove again and again that life continues in the spirit of our children and grandchildren. While they may not be here in the flesh, their spirit lives on in the memories and in the values that they instilled to those who they have touched. Help us feel their presence and influence here and forever forward. We are all better for having had them in our lives.

Comfort us as only You can. Provide us the light to show us what’s important, heal us with the love of this family and lend us your voice.

Surprise us with daily goodness and love and open our eyes so that we don’t miss a thing You are doing. Give us Your peace and understanding.

This season is more than just gift giving and the gathering of food. It is about reuniting with loved ones and sharing the memories of the past. After all the hardships we’ve endured over the last two years, we are thankful that You brought us all here together again tonight.

AMEN