A Prayer for 2013?

 As a little girl growing up in the ‘80s in South Florida, The Shepherd’s Prayer is the one thing I remember most about my mom at Christmas time. Every time we drove the streets of Ft. Lauderdale she would blast this song over the speakers and sing along with the shepherd from her heart. While the song isn’t some amazing piece of musical genius the words are especially poignant at Christmastime and necessary all through the year.

This year as I began to put my manger scene away on New Year’s Day I was struck once again by the cry of the Shepherd. How transformative it would be if we made his prayer our own, both in 2013 and through all our days:

Twas the night before Christmas,
And my only desire
Was peace among kids, and to rest by the fire.
I had just settled down in my favorite chair;
When I heard a small voice, and a cry of despair.
As I stared at the hearth I saw a strange sight!
Our nativity scene, in the flickering light
Seemed almost alive!
And how could this be!
One lonely shepherd was calling to me.

Move me closer, move me closer
Move me closer to the Child.
Let me see Him, let me hold His hand.
Move me closer to the Child.

As you can well imagine, I was a bit surprised.
So with a shake of the head and a rub of the eyes
I took another look, and what did I see,
Without a doubt he was looking at me.

It seems in the hustle and bustle of things
In the wrapping of gifts, and the building of swings,
In assembling his scene, I’d been a bit hurried,
And understandably so, He was a little bit worried.

Move me closer, move me closer
Move me closer to the Child.
Let me see Him, let me hold His hand.
Move me closer to the Child.

You see, candy canes and holly trim
Didn’t mean a thing to him.
If it kept him from his post
Beside the child he loved the most.

So as strange as it must seem,
Whether it was, or wasn’t, a dream.
I placed him back where he belonged
As he sang again his simple song.
And now when we at Christmas share,
We sing his song:
A Shepherd’s Prayer.

Move me closer, move me closer
Move me closer to the Child.
Let me see Him, let me hold His hand.
Move me closer to the Child.
Move me closer to the Child.

Would you consider joining me this year, with the shepherd in the field, and ask God each day to more closely commune with him? I’d love to hear if this prayer resonates with you and how you intend to move closer to the Christ child this year in the comments below.