A Christmas Prayer for the Home
The story revolves around a family's Christmas celebration and their struggles with materialism and spiritual emptiness. The father, a wealthy businessman, is forced to confront the true meaning of Christmas when his children pray for him to be more like Santa Claus. As he reflects on his own values and priorities, he begins to see the error of his ways and makes amends with his family.
By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1898 · Genre: Religious, Inspirational, Holiday · 589 words
First lines
Father of all men, look upon our family, Kneeling together before Thee, And grant us a true Christmas.
With loving heart we bless Thee: For the gift of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, For the peace He brings to human homes, For the good-will He teaches to sinful men, For the glory of Thy goodness shining in His face.
What this Textopian page supports
A Christmas Prayer for the Home is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Van Dyke, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry Van Dyke
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious, Inspirational, Holiday, Family, Poetry
- Length: 589 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Christmas Prayer for the Home by Henry Van Dyke
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- A Prayer For A Mothers Birthday Lyrics by Henry Van Dyke
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- A Home Song Songs Of Hearth And Altar by Henry Van Dyke
- Christmas Greeting by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Religious — The text is a prayer that directly addresses God, referencing Christian beliefs and figures such as Jesus Christ, and includes the Lord's Prayer.
- Inspirational — The prayer aims to inspire and uplift by invoking themes of peace, goodwill, and blessings, encouraging positive actions and attitudes.
- Holiday — The content is centered around Christmas, discussing the celebration of Jesus's birth and the spirit of the holiday.
- Family — The prayer emphasizes family unity and togetherness, with references to family members and shared experiences.
Tags
Christmas · Prayer · Poetry · Spirituality · Faith · Family · Home · Love · Kindness · Generosity · Gratitude · Reflection