Path Forward - 8. The Light that Lit the Holy Night

The Light that Lit the Holy Night,

By Brandon Haines

Lord, on this holy night, when the world slows down, the lights glow soft against the dark, I come to You with gratitude and ache, with memories that warm me and memories that still sting.

Thank You for the Child in the manger, the Promise wrapped in humility, the Light that stepped into our shadows so none of us would walk alone.

Thank You for the family still beside me, for the ones who carry my mother’s gentleness, for the ones who steady me when grief rises, for the ones who remind me that love does not end — it just changes rooms.

And Lord, thank You for the people You’ve placed in my life to protect, to honor, to stand with, to love without conditions — the way You love us.

On this Christmas, teach me to carry peace like a lantern, hope like a heartbeat, and compassion like a calling. Make my life a shelter for the hurting, a refuge for the weary, a reminder that Your love is bigger than our differences and stronger than our wounds.

Bless this night, bless this season, bless the ones I miss and the ones I hold close. And let the light of Christ shine through me in every step I take.

Amen.