(My Christmas card to you all, Joyce Reece) A CHRISTMAS PRAYER On this day we pay our respects in celebrating the birth of Christ we want to give thanks..... Thanks because, even though some are no longer with us, we know they have only moved closer to You... Thanks that those who remain in our midst have such friendship, joy, faith, respect, caring, understanding, generosity, forgiveness and love ..... Thanks that even through the tribulations and burdens of life we always have each other and the bonds we have created, for we know that each burden, trial and sacrifice only brings us closer together..... We give thanks that even though our country has had problems and has endured the loss of many human lives, we will overcome our tragedy and we will remain the greatest nation in the world..... We pray for our country and state leaders. That they will have the wisdom needed to see us through this crisis and make themselves and us better than we were..... Even though, sometimes our bodies fail us, we thank You for our good health, our spiritual growth, our friends, our blessings, our family, our wisdom and our strengths for we know that Your footprints are always in the sand with ours...that sometimes we must look behind us to see that you are helping us carry our burdens because only one set of footprints remain..... We pray that each and every person interlocked within this circle, whether in body or spirit, will receive the many blessings that each has earned because "You can judge a tree by the fruit it bears". We know only You can bestow peace and good will among all men..... We give thanks that You have given us one more day and one more year to celebrate Christmas..... God bless us all and Merry Christmas!