Rejoice! Rejoice!  Emmanuel has come to thee!
  I am not feeling peace this year. It was a year of pain, struggle and death for my family, and my birth family's legacy of disfunction and bondage lives on.
Now, at Christmas time, I can only pray that others in my family will come to the same conclusion that I have:  God is my only source of peace. 
Jesus brings joy and healing, if you allow it.   My prayer, my plea, my fervent hope is that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all three-in-one, will "be with me." 
Emmanuel, be with me.  Lift me out of this loneliness; lift me out of myself.  Help me connect with You so that I may better love and shine your light for my husband, my children, my extended family and my friends. 
Bring intimacy into my life.  Rescue me from isolation.  Let me feel your Love. 
Bring light into my darkness.    When I walk with a joyful spirit, I am naturally more at peace. 
Jesus, thank you for the joy, unfailing love and peace that you bring.  
Amen.  
Isaiah 9:2, Psalm 6:4