25 Prayers of Christmas, Day 14

The other night I had a dream about a friend of mine who died this year, much too young. It has been a few years since I've seen him. He was only 19 then.

In my dream I am hanging ornaments on a tree. He is there and we are admiring the brightest, shiniest ornament. I am hanging it for him, in his honor, his memory. Because it reminds me of his personality. Bright, shiny, alive with wonder.

My prayer this Christmas is that we would find a way to honor, to remember, all the loved ones we have lost this year, in a meaningful way. Maybe it is with an ornament that reminds us of them. A donation to an organization that fights against the disease they died from. Or simply speaking their names, in our Christmas cards, our conversations or our prayers around the Christmas dinner table.

While Christmas seems like it should be the happiest time of year, for some it is the hardest. But perhaps finding a way to honor the ones we are missing will help us channel a bit of the heartache.

These are for you Corey. XOXO

25 Prayers of Christmas, Day 12

God, we know that we aren't supposed to care what other people think.

The fact that YOU think we are the most important thing, that YOU would drop everything to be with us, is supposed to be enough. Is supposed to be the only thing that matters.

But let's be real.

It hurts to feel like we aren't a priority.

So, even as we seek to be slow to offend, comfort us when the words and actions of others hurt.

25 Prayers of Christmas, Day 7

I'm thinking today about all the people who will be spending Christmas alone.

I don't know what prayer to pray for them. Whether I should pray that someone would come into their lives between now and December 25, or that your presence alone would be enough God, or that they would receive an unexpected gift or card to brighten their holiday. Perhaps I should pray "why?" or "that sucks" or "you better make this up to them on their birthday."

Sometimes we don't know what to pray. But thank you God, that you still hear.