Well, this isn’t the happy little Christmas blog, I had anticipated writing, but it has come to my mind several times already this Christmas season, how melancholy I can sometimes feel during this “most wonderful time of year” and I see it in those around me as well.
I remember growing up going to my Grandma & Grandpa’s house every Christmas Eve, where we would hang out with the family around the very obnoxiously tinseled tree and we would open whatever Grandma had picked out for us that year from the Sears catalog. I don’t know how poppin’ of a party it truly was, but I sure look back on it fondly and even though my grandparents have now been gone for more of my life than I had them here, I still miss them at Christmas and every Christmas Eve feels a little empty.
I’ve been thinking about my Uncle who left us too early and loved to be around all of his family. I remember him sharing his heart in letters with us, I remember crying and laughing together as a family and wish that he could be here with us this year and the heart hurts.
I think of my friend from youth group Bill whose birthday was this past week. He was such a pillar to so many people especially his family and left us far to soon after battling cancer.
We all have stories, we all have loss and if we look around long enough we can see more heartache and sadness than we care to, but there is something about the Christmas Season and the traditions and nostalgia that comes with it that make us long even more to be with those we miss, whether they are still on this earth and we are separated by distance or whether they have left this world and taken a piece of us with them.
You know, it’s ok to feel the loss and to mourn it, a matter of fact it’s important. However, I would encourage each of you even as you may be dealing with your own sense of sadness or grief to look around and count your blessings, tell those you hold dear that you love them, let them know what they mean to you and reach out to those who are feeling lonely this Christmas.
The truth is…the one whose birth we celebrate at Christmas loves us every day of the year and He will never leave us or forsake us and that means that even when we walk through difficult places, He is there. We are not alone.
Wishing each of you joy and peace this Christmas!
Neeserisms 
What a beautiful way to share that it is ok and natural to be feeling a bit “unmerry” during the “happiest time of the year”. I too feel this way.
I loved your blog….it made me cry and be grateful for the time that I had with the ones that I loved though they are no longer here in the flesh. A gentle reminder that we are not alone, all is well, grieving is to be expected and to be grateful for all the wonderful things we have in our lives.
Thanks Denise. You are quite a treasure.
Thanks so much for this gift of truth, for validating what many folks are feeling, and — especially — for reminding us of His unending and ever-present love, grace, and mercy. Even though you made me cry, I still love ya!