"Forgive Us Our Christmases"

The story has been published of a little girl caught in the pre-Christmas swirl of activity, all of which seemed to be coming to a head on Christmas Eve. Dad, loaded down with bundles, seemed to have an even greater number of worries. Mom, under the pressure of getting ready for the great occasion, had yielded to tears several times during the day. The little girl herself, trying to help, found that she was always under foot, and sometimes adult kindness to her wore thin.
Finally, near tears herself, she was hustled off to bed. There, kneeling to pray the Lord's Prayer before finally tumbling in, her mind and tongue betrayed her and she prayed,
"Forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us."
Perhaps the little girl's prayer was not such a great mistake. Too often we leave out the Christ of Christmas. Too often He is crowded out of our busy lives. Remember, the best gift won't be found in a box but in a person.