Christmas Shopping

O God of words, dear word made flesh, give birth to my thoughts, change them into words that will help me to Christmas up the lives of those I love, for I am weak and fragile scared and empty this year and still I feel you very near.  Jesus, I think I feel you coming, Jesus I think I hear a sound that says you've cared your way into my life again.  I think I see a light more lasting than the ones we hang on trees.  I think I see a world that's splashed with God again so gospelled with His presence so covered with His love yet, lonely still.  O shoppers, dear shoppers put your carts away.  Please put your carts away and search deep down within your hearts for the gifts that will not rust or fade.  For where your treasure is there is your heart.  Matt. 6:19-21 O look into your God splashed, gospelled hearts and see!  See Christmas standing there waiting to be, not bought but given free.  We are Christmas shoppers, Lord.  We are shopping for a way to make your coming last.  O take the blind in us and hold it close.  O teach us how to see.  Decorate our lives with your vision; for Christmas let us see!  O shoppers, dear shoppers hang lights in your hearts instead of on your trees.  For the one we've hung our hopes on has come, and now we're free, but only if we see.  Jesus, we long for Christmas-eyes.  Please heal the blind in us for Christmas, eyes that see! 
                         Macrina Wiederkehr         Seasons of the Heart