Dec 18, 2019
You don’t know when it may hit you. “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” some say. But to those who are grieving, jingle bells and ho ho ho around every corner may make the hurt run deeper and the whole season dreadfully hard.
Whether we actually come out and say it or not, our usual sentiment is, “Isn’t everyone happy at Christmas?” It’s true that at Christmas we are celebrating something wonderful. But it’s also true that on this earth, many have experienced loss and brokenness whether recent or in the past.
Grief isn’t linear with a start and stop, and often times memories of loved ones or past sadnesses can come out of nowhere. Especially at Christmas or any holiday when emotions are soaring and songs are singing, those grieving may feel alone and distant. Some may even feel guilty because of their sadness and put pressure on themselves to jump into the celebrations. Let me just stop right here and say that it’s okay to feel sadness even during the most wonderful time of the year. It’s okay if you’re not the one smiling and partying with a blinking lights Christmas necklace.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” And Jesus himself even wept here on earth when he saw how heartbroken Mary and Martha were over Lazarus’ death.
If you’re grieving this Christmas, I encourage you to give yourself some grace and room for your sadness. But just be sure not to dwell so deeply in your grief that you lose sight of hope. Remember that we do have hope through Jesus and victory over death and all things that make us grieve.
And if you’re the one wearing the Llama Christmas sweater that spits glitter and sings carols, keep spreading that Christmas cheer! We all need to know that there’s still joy in the world.
stillsmallfaith.com 