A WINTERS PRAYER

      We began our Christmas festive dinner last evening at Neumann House with this prayer.  On this bitter winter day before Christmas, I thought I might share it with you.

    We give you thanks, O Lord, 

for times and seasons 

and now for winter nights 

when stars shine coldly bright, 

and dust is turned to diamonds underfoot.  

For winter days when trees 

are stronger than the icy death 

and hold in blackened limbs 

the promise of the resurrection.  

For opposites be praised: 

for heat and cold, 

for stillness and the snow 

that sculptures every house and tree 

and falls like great absolution 

to heal the wounded earth.  

We give you thanks for Him 

whose birth we celebrate in winter 

so all may know, may wildly know, 

that love is stronger than the coldest flesh 

and mercy blankets all the land 

more surely than the snow.  

We give you thanks for Him 

who makes more than children joyful 

and does not cheat our laughter in the end.  

Joyous Lord, 

beyond imagining but not beyond desire, 

we give you glory and our son of praise.

[author unknown to me]