I wrote this last year, but wanted to share it again this year in hopes it might encourage some of you who might feel the same way…
Can I be really honest with you? My heart’s been heavy this December.
I usually love the Christmas season. I love the smells, the music, the food, the time with family and friends, the special moments and memories.
But this year? My heart feels burdened.
There are so many people around me who are going through hard things… friends who are grieving the loss of a child, friends who have experienced deep physical and emotional pain this past year, friends who are struggling in their marriage, friends who are struggling financially, friends who are grieving big losses… and on and on the list goes.
I just want to fix it all and take it all away so that Christmas can be joyful and cheerful and wonderful — instead of painful and hurtful.
But I can’t take away the pain. I can’t replace what was lost. I can’t fix someone else’s marriage. I can’t heal someone else’s wounded relationship. I can’t wave a magic wand and solve someone’s unemployment struggles.
So what can I do? I can pray. I can listen. I can encourage. I can go out of my way to show that I care.
I can give the gift of myself.
And that’s the gift that most are longing for this Christmas — to know that they aren’t alone. That they are loved. That they are seen. That they are cared about. That, in the midst of all of the festivities and celebrations, their pain and hurt and heartache is not forgotten.
So my Christmas challenge for all of you today is this: In the middle of the merry-making, the carol-singing, the cookie-decorating, the present-giving, and the gift-unwrapping, look around and notice that person who is hurting and grieving.
The widow across the street. The woman holding the tattered sign on the side of the road. Your aunt sitting across the table from you at Christmas dinner.
Look into her eyes. Ask her how she’s doing. Let her know — by your words and actions — that she isn’t forgotten. That she is seen. And most importantly, that she is loved.
Give the gift of yourself this Christmas. It’s the greatest gift you have to offer.
What a wonderful reminder. I am usually aware that there are so many hurting around me. It seems that there are many I know who have lost loved ones unexpectedly this past year. It may not seem like much, but just listening and acknowledging another’s hurt can make a difference in their lives. As you said, sharing ourselves is the best. And we can always pray.
This is very true, coming from someone that is hurting. I grew up in a family that always had and included lots of others in our celebrations every year, family or not. We no longer live near family, but we have invited and welcomed many people into our home on different years that have joined us.
But we lost our 19-year-old son in the the fall of 2015, and now my husband has been temporarily living in another state to help care of his sick mother for the past month until she passes away. It was just my daughter and I together for Christmas, and most everyone around me is/was caught up in their own holidays to notice or care that we are alone and hurting, from neighbors to friends. We made the best of our day and will be very happy when the holidays are over.
I’m SO sorry that it was a rough holiday season. 🙁
I just wanted to thank you for posting this again. Last year, it wasn’t for me. This year, it was.
{Hugs!}
When you posted this last year it was the one year anniversary of my first miscarriage (Christmas 2014) and the due date of the baby I lost in my second miscarriage. While this Christmas is a bit bittersweet because my grandma had a major stroke and is now living with my parents (and often gets upset because she can’t communicate well anymore) we are celebrating a new baby in the house – our son was born in October. My word for the past year and a half or so has been “Trust” – that the Lord will bring blessings and not just trials. He has and we are very thankful for our new son.
Hello,
I read your post and found it interesting that I also suffered two miscarriages and one was on December 3rd, right around Christmas. The Lord has also blessed our family with a son who was also born in October. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
This brought tears to my eyes. I feel this same way this year- a lot has happened and there are many burdens. Glad we have Jesus! Thanks for sharing Crystal! Merry Christmas to you!:)