A Prayer about Happy Holidays
A Prayer about Happy Holidays
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Psalm 98:4
Joyful Lord,
It’s already happening.
I feel my inner Grinch creeping,
ready to make a sneak attack
on the poor unsuspecting checkout folks
who cheerfully call out, “Happy Holidays”
after I’ve just bought Christmas ornaments.
Lord, I know they’ve been told what to say.
Lord, I know that Christmas
has become commercialized.
And yet, these stores will still play songs like,
“Joy to the World, the Lord is come,
let earth receive her King,”
and “Hark, the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King.’”
So rather than getting all grinchy
when someone tells me, “Happy Holidays,”
help me to joyfully respond, “Thank you,”
or even, “Joy to the world!”
Help me to see that even the “secularization” of Christmas
offers prime opportunities
to share the true reason for our joy —
we have a great King,
and that King has come,
in the form of a baby human!
It’s game-changing news,
but many don’t know it.
May we seek this season
to share this news
in the best way we know how,
by living and loving
in the fullness of our Savior’s joy!
Amen.
Read Psalm 98; Luke 2:8-20.
Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.
