A Prayer When Giving Thanks Is Onerous – Your Every day Prayer

A Prayer for When Giving Thanks Is Onerous
By Molly Legislation 

“Rejoice all the time, pray regularly, give thanks in all circumstances; for that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The vacations are by no means lower and dry. Despite the fact that it feels as if life needs to be placed on maintain for essentially the most joyous time of the yr, sadly, it simply doesn’t work that manner. I can not describe what Christmas time does to me. It fills me with such unbridled pleasure — pleasure that I keep in mind feeling as a toddler, pleasure in the best way it brings households collectively. I await this sense all yr lengthy.

As I are likely to really feel extra depressed in the course of the Summer time (I do know few who really feel this manner in the course of the summer season fairly than the winter), when the climate begins to show, the leaves start to paint after which fall, and I really feel the descent of the vacations, it erases that season and I really feel pleasure in life as soon as extra. After all, as I mentioned, it’s not that straightforward. Tragedy doesn’t look ahead to the vacations to be over — it doesn’t maintain off till the day after Christmas to strike. 

Tragedy, any form of tragedy, is horrible it doesn’t matter what time of yr it’s, but it doesn’t distinction with “essentially the most great time of the yr” prefer it does across the holidays. When one thing tragic occurs with the backdrop of Thanksgiving and Christmas, it provides one other stage of grief that will not be there at every other time. 

It will probably evoke disgrace when the entire world is telling you “‘tis the season to be jolly!” It will probably trigger us to cover and suppress our emotions once we are gathered across the Thanksgiving desk with our households — not desirous to be the one to position a darkish cloud over the festivities. 

Life can not and won’t cease for something. Whereas Thanksgiving and Christmas are great instances to offer thanks and have fun the beginning of our Savior, they shouldn’t be instances the place we ignore another person’s ache all within the identify of Christmas cheer. It may be tempting to disregard, particularly if our cherished one doesn’t volunteer what they’re going by means of and simply benefit from the vacation season. 

This time of yr is not only in regards to the presents, the songs, the meals, and the decorations. It’s a season of remembrance, it’s a season of giving and serving these round us simply because the King of Kings left his residence in heaven to come back to earth in essentially the most weak kind — a child — to develop, reside, and die a brutal loss of life on a cross for us.

Let’s Pray:

Expensive Lord,
This yr, the vacations won’t be joy-filled as many have gone by means of unimaginable tragedy. I pray that as their household, buddies, and coworkers that we present love, compassion, and understanding. I pray that we don’t ignore anybody’s ache all within the identify of getting the proper Christmas. I pray that our properties shall be welcoming — that everybody is aware of that it doesn’t matter what has occurred, it’s a protected place to be. I pray that nobody will really feel like they need to skip the vacations as a result of they don’t need to “convey all people else down with them.”

Please, God, be with everybody who has skilled tragedy this yr and near the vacations. I pray that this season it doesn’t need to be both, or — for all times is an amalgamation of darkness and lightweight. I pray that proper alongside of ache that pleasure may be felt in the identical beat. I hope everybody is aware of that it’s okay to really feel each on the similar time. Please convey us consolation and peace in our time of mourning. Give us people who find themselves caring and understanding. I pray that we flip to you to really feel your overwhelming presence, the place you cry with us, you consolation us, and take our burdens as your individual.

Thanks for revealing your love for us by sacrificing your Son for his whole life on earth and in loss of life. As a Father, I can’t think about how acutely you felt that ache your self. I do know full properly that you already know our ache and may shoulder something we undergo. I pray that we, as Christians, comply with your instance and reside in your picture for these round us.

We love and belief you with all of our hearts, our Father and Savior.
In Jesus’ valuable identify, Amen. 

Photograph credit score: ©Getty Photos/Christin Lola