A Prayer for Families to Draw Closer Together This Christmas
By Kristine Brown
Bible Reading:
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” - John 15:12 ESV
Listen or Read Below:
Around Christmas time last year, while watching a favorite show, I was drawn into a Christmas-themed commercial that tugged at my heart. The scene showed an elderly man alone in his home, staring longingly at photos of his family. The scene flipped from home to home, where viewers got a glimpse of grown children and grandchildren, obviously too busy to visit their aging Grandpa. At the commercial’s end, the one thing the old man wanted most had not come to pass. His family did not come to visit for the holidays. No words were spoken throughout the short video, but the message was clear. Togetherness is important.
The commercial left me feeling sorrowful for the aging man depicted. I also began to reflect on my own priorities at Christmas. In my mind, I took stock of years past and wondered, “Have I reached out enough? Have I made a point to draw close to family this time of year and beyond?” There was a time many years ago when busy schedules got my priorities out of alignment, but thankfully through the ups and downs of life, God has shown me the importance of relationships with the people closest to me.
When I think about our own families and how we treat each other at Christmas time, our key verse stands out as a needed reminder from Jesus himself. Because, in a way, the disciples were like family to each other. Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). This verse in John 15 is part of a larger section of Scripture often referred to as Jesus’ “farewell discourse.” In it, Jesus gave his disciples final instructions and encouragement. Jesus told them to love each other. Not just strangers, but their fellow disciples, too. They needed to do their best to show love to the people they did life with on a daily basis. To prioritize their closest relationships.
We all know that sometimes, that can be hard to do. According to The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Jesus knew “the future of the disciples' work among others depended on their attitude toward one another.” They could only love one another in full measure because that is how Jesus first loved them. In the same way, we can love our families and those closest to us in full measure because that is how Jesus loves us. We may not always have the means to visit in person, but there are other ways we can draw close together as a family this season.
Let’s commit this year to praying about ways our families and others can draw closer. Let’s read Jesus’ words and let them settle deep in our hearts. Do you have a family member right now who may be looking at family photos and longing to draw closer? May God open the door for deeper connection, togetherness, and love.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Jesus,
You command us in your holy Word to love one another, just as you have loved us. Thank you for your love. Thank you for demonstrating how to love the people in our lives every day. In this season of being around other people, sharing meals and time together, help us grow closer with our families and loved ones. Help us understand your will for our relationships. We want to honor you in how we treat others, including those you’ve placed in our lives. We may not always get along with our families, and we may have our differences, but we can still love one another. Help us to see each other as you see us. Open the door for opportunities to draw closer together. Lord, open our eyes to those in our lives who feel alone at Christmastime. Point us to those who feel forgotten or overlooked. Guide us as we make lasting connections and share your love with others, as you’ve commanded us to do.
In your holy name, we pray, Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Evgenyatamanenko
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