From my book Touching the Seasons, a prayer on the theme of God’s love and ours.
The mistletoe
It was a bit of fun, that’s all –
a quick kiss under the mistletoe –
but it caught the spirit of the season:
a time for breaking down barriers
and bringing people together;
of goodwill to all.
But, of course, the kiss meant little –
a sign of affection, perhaps,
but the closeness more apparent than real.
You, Lord, speak of a different kind of closeness,
not just with others but above all with you,
made possible through your coming among us,
sharing our humanity
and dying our death to bring us life.
Help me to celebrate the love at the heart of this season –
the relationship you offer in Christ –
and, through him, draw me closer to you each day.
Amen.