The Spirit of Christmas | Page 8

will be done in earth, as it is in heaven._ _Give us
this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors._ _And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:_
_For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen._

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR LONELY FOLKS
Lord God of the solitary, Look upon me in my loneliness. Since I may
not keep this Christmas in the home, Send it into my heart.
Let not my sins cloud me in, But shine through them with forgiveness
in the face of the child Jesus. Put me in loving remembrance of the
lowly lodging in the stable of Bethlehem, The sorrows of the blessed
Mary, the poverty and exile of the Prince of Peace. For His sake, give
me a cheerful courage to endure my lot, And an inward comfort to
sweeten it.
Purge my heart from hard and bitter thoughts. Let no shadow of
forgetting come between me and friends far away: Bless them in their
Christmas mirth: Hedge me in with faithfulness, That I may not grow
unworthy to meet them again.
Give me good work to do, That I may forget myself and find peace in
doing it for Thee. Though I am poor, send me to carry some gift to
those who are poorer, Some cheer to those who are more lonely. Grant
me the joy to do a kindness to one of Thy little ones: Light my
Christmas candle at the gladness of an innocent and grateful heart.
Strange is the path where Thou leadest me: Let me not doubt Thy
wisdom, nor lose Thy hand. Make me sure that Eternal Love is
revealed in Jesus, Thy dear Son, To save us from sin and solitude and

death. Teach me that I am not alone, But that many hearts, all round the
world, Join with me through the silence, while I pray in His name:
_Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name._ _Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven._ _Give us
this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors._ _And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:_
_For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen._
* * * * *

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