A Christmas Prayer
Robert Louis Stevenson
Loving Father,
Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be your children,
and Christmas evening brings us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.