I hate the hype of Christmas! Holidays are such a lonely time. The commercialism of the holidays drills home the loneliness I feel. Perfect Norman Rockwell family portraits splashed everywhere, magazines, ads, and TV channels. Pictures of multi-generational families gathered together with large smiles, hugs, and joyous splendor. This is not my life.
All of this serves to remind me of what I don’t have. That is not what Christmas should be about. That is not how I should feel about Christmas but I do. The real Christmas is having Christ in our hearts and celebrating the birth of our Savior. How can there be room both for my self-pity and the joy of Christ?
As a motherless daughter I am always triggered when I hear Silent Night, especially the verse, “round mother and child.” I begin crying and then the downward spiral happens. I focus on what I don’t have. I have no one to call me her daughter. Then I feel guilty. I have a wonderful husband, daughter, and son-in-law. Guilt then tears, then guilt then tears . . . and on and on until I am so parched there are no tears left.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to go there this holiday season. I need support and prayers. I need you! We need each other. Will you join me in a 40-day Prayer Covenant to reach motherless daughters all over the world and fill that empty place in our hearts with each other’s love and prayers? You are not alone. There is a sisterhood of motherless daughters who stand with you and are holding you through this holiday season.
Please pray with me:
“Dear Father, thank you for your grace that has made me one of your dearly loved children. Help me to know that you will fill those empty places with others who speak wisdom and truth to me. Empower me to love other motherless daughters, the way you love me. Forgive me for my longing for those who are with you. Enable me to praise you, O Lord, with all my heart. Jesus, be Lord of my life today in new ways, and change me any way you want! Make me an instrument of your grace, truth, forgiveness, righteousness and justice. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Use me today for your glory, and to reach motherless daughters all over the world and for them to know they are not alone. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
4 replies on “World-Wide 40 Day Prayer Covenant for Motherless Daughters”
Thank you, Mary Ellen, for your honesty here. Perhaps next year Deerfield UMC can partner with MDM to offer a special worship service on an evening in December that is for those who feel a sense of loss at Christmas. This service would be open to anyone who has experienced a loss or who feels pain and sorrow at Christmas. Sometimes this has been called a Blue Christmas service or a Dark Night of the Soul service. I have offered them in the past when I knew of needs in the congregation. By partnering with MDM, we could widen the offering to invite folks from many walks of life.
Thanks Linda. I think that would be a really good idea. So many times I think people do feel guilty about their grief at this time of the year. Let’s do it!
Thank you for sharing.I have had a bad morning and the tears are flowing.I really need to be getting ready for work but I desperately am in need of a little comfort this morning.I just wanted to say Thanks for sharing your prayers.
Janee,
You are welcome. Tears are healing. They are the window washers of our soul. Know you can always reach out for comfort to the Motherless Daughters Ministry. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!