The holidays can be joyful, but sometimes also difficult when it comes to reuniting with family members where there may be unresolved hurt and emotional wounds.
Even in the most loving of families, we can have strained relationships or dysfunctional family dynamics, and as much as we try to be loving with others we have differences with, the stress of the holidays can get the best of us!
Here is a roundup of some prayers and reflections focusing on forgiveness, compassion, and surrendering all to Jesus so He can help you as you prepare for your family gatherings.
Forgiveness Prayer
This is hands-down one of the prayers I say the most when I need to forgive. It’s short, simple, easy to remember, and gets right to the heart of what I know God desires for me. I’m providing it below, but here’s the full explanation about this simple and effective prayer.
“Jesus, help me to see ________ through Your eyes. Help me to love ___________ with the love of Your Heart.”
A Prayer for Hope
If you’re feeling a sense of hopelessness as your family gatherings approach, remember that you have love, compassion, and peace awaiting you in the Heart of Jesus. Here is a prayer for you.
A Prayer for Strained Family Relationships
Most of us have had strained family relationships at some point in our lives. They can be painful and heartbreaking, especially when they are with someone we were once close with. This prayer is meant to help you entrust yourself, your family member, and your relationship to Jesus.
Discernment Prayer for Tough and Important Decisions
Do you need to make a tough or important decision that relates to family gatherings? Are there multiple family gatherings that coincide with each other and you can’t go to them all? Are you questioning whether you should go anywhere because of how gatherings of certain size or with certain individuals can affect you?
Perhaps you know deep down what is best, but are worried about pleasing others or hurting others’ feelings. Whatever the decision is that needs to be made, it’s important to remember to surrender that decision to Jesus. He is in control of all and knows what’s best for us. He desires only our good. Here is a prayer to help you make those tough and important decisions.
Forgiveness & Compassion Reflections
Gathering with family members may bring up old feelings of hurt that can indicate some areas where you may still need healing. If you’ve got some time to sit with Jesus and meditate on those relationships and the areas where you’re struggling to forgive, here are some reflections you can use. You may wish to have a journal handy to write down any thoughts or feelings that arise as you go through these meditations:
- Reflection Forgiveness Using the Beatitudes – This reflection leads you to reflect on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) and follows with reflections and a closing prayer for your meditation time.
- Meditation on Forgiveness Using the Canticle of Mary – This is a three-part meditation series on forgiveness uses portions of The Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), with a downloadable PDF you can use if you wish.
- A Reflection on Moving from Hurt, Resentment and Anger to Compassion – This 8-page downloadable PDF reflection leads you through experiencing God’s compassion for you to help you in turn will be able to develop compassion for others that have hurt you.
May you surrender yourself into the Heart of Jesus this holiday season and rest in His love.