בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Bārūch atāh Adonai Elohênū melekh ha`ôlām šeheḥeyānû veqîmānû vehigî`ānû lazman hazeh

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who hast given us life and sustained us and brought us to this season

Monday, December 25, 2023

Christmas Night by Max Lucado

Max Lucado is a well-known and beloved author as well as a minister at Oak Hills Church. Please see the Max Lucado website for additional stories, books, and other inspirational links.

I stumbled upon this gem many years ago when feeling sad and letdown at the end of a busy but happy Christmas season. It has now become an annual tradition to re-light the candles of our Advent wreath at the end of Christmas Day and read this story, which always makes me weep at the line "In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer." I have not been able to find it online again, but reproduce it here with all credit to Reverend Lucado.