Dear Lord,

It's Christmas Eve here, Christmas day in some parts of the land.  For many folks, it is hard to remember what this is all about.  There are injured workers throughout our state that are in the middle of claims disputes.  They can't work.  They don't have any income.  They are losing their possessions.  Some are losing their homes.  They hurt.  Not just physically, but emotionally.  Here it is Christmas, and they don't have anything to put under a tree.  I am sure there are many who don't even have a Christmas tree.  I can't imagine their despair.  The pain of knowing that when their children awake in the morning, there will not be any presents to open.  Embarrassment.  Hurt pride.  Feelings that a family is being let down.  It's easy, Lord, to get lost in that despair.  It goes beyond Christmas, for that is only one day.  It's easy to lose hope.

I pray for these people, Lord.  For healing.  For a new start.  For a job.  For peace.  For understanding.  For hope.  I pray that the rest of us will find a way to help, to show your love to those who need it.  I pray that this Christmas, we all will remember why we celebrate in the first place.  We celebrate Christ, his birth, his death and resurrection.  We celebrate the hope we have in Him.  Help us to find the love, that without Him would not be.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

In Jesus' Name, Amen.