My Christmas Prayer

I've always loved this John Whittier hymn - and I really needed it on Christmas Day! (I hate it when people change the plan on me!)

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise. (2x)

With that deep hush subduing all
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of Thy call,
As noiseless let Thy blessing fall
As fell Thy manna down. (2x)

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace. (2x)

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm. (2x)

For a day so fraught with emotion the only photo is peaceful enough! I think I am finally learning to let God's coolness and balm reach me in the "earthquakes" of my life. Even though the day on the whole may be difficult, I still find my moments of calm in the middle of it.