Truthfully, though, sometimes things go less smoothly, and people get frustrated with each other. Sometimes someone in the extended family doesn’t get the memo that we don’t need to work out every family argument or political difference in a single visit. Sometimes people are tired or cranky or have eaten too much sugar. So we’ve learned to take a beat, take a breath, and redirect. Or take a minute for ourselves, to re-center. Or simply to try to give grace.

My prayer for you is that you, too, can bask in light and in love during this week after Christmas. That even if someone behaves badly, you can hold onto the reason we celebrate, that baby who arrived, who was also God. So if you can, don’t hurry the season off too soon. Enjoy the carols a little longer, remembering that we are beloved of God. A new and wonderful thing really did happen in that first Christmas, and it’s worth savoring for a time, if you can.

Wishing you grace and peace this week,

Becky

Prayer

Gracious God,

Of whom we are beloved beyond our capacity to know,

Help us to give grace to each other in this season,

Knowing that togetherness can sometimes be difficult.

Help us to be kind if we venture out to shop

or do our returns,

Knowing that retail work can be very difficult this time of year.

We pray for those who are grieving,

knowing that this time of year be especially difficult,

And for those whose celebrations have felt compromised

by illness or conflict.

Help us all, whatever the status of our holidays,

To savor the immediacy of your presence

in the incarnation,

in our daily lives,

and throughout time.

We give you thanks that you are with us, and you are for us,

now and always. Amen.