Christmas readiness

Are you willing -
To stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children;
To remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old;
To stop asking how much your friends love you, and to ask yourself whether you love them enough.
To bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts.
To trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you.
To make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with your gate open.
Are you willing to do these things for today? Then you are ready for Christmas.(Written by Henry van Dyke (1852-1933) American clergyman, educator and author. Professor of English Literature at Princeton from 1899-1923)

My prayer for today "Lord give me the grace to so live that I can truthfully say "I'm ready for Christmas."