A Prayer about a Silent Night

A prayer about a silent night:

Heavenly Father,

It’s shaping up for many to be a pretty silent night—

We will stay home rather than attending a Christmas Eve service in person,

no hilarious scenes of shoving siblings during the invariably chaotic children’s sermon,

no warm hugs from beloved friends who have become adopted family.

My family is missing this tradition this year.

In the silent and still days, may we listen and look.

May we hear the angels singing, “All is calm, all is bright,” and know that day is coming.

May we see that it in fact, has already arrived with the “Son of righteousness”

who has lived, died, and risen with “healing in his wings.”

May we remember that no matter how different this Christmas looks than the past,

we have reason to rejoice.

Your glory is streaming from heaven above,

and your light has shone in the darkness.

And you will “soon” return to restore our joy finally and forever.

Read Malachi 4:2; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:68-79.