Holiday Season

Thanksgiving has come and gone. My birthday falls around Thanksgiving, sometimes landing on that day. Growing up, my family celebrated my (and my brother’s) birthday on Thanksgiving. I always liked that holiday, probably because of that.

In high school, my sisters and I would get up early the next day to get early-hour deals. We finished our shopping by lunchtime and treated ourselves to lunch out.

Now with my own family, on-line shopping replaces early-morning shopping. After cleaning up the kitchen from the day before, we venture out to buy a Christmas tree. We then proceed to transform the house with Christmas lights and decorations. Shorter days mean more darkness. Christmas lights on timers decorate our front lawn, back deck and various rooms inside.

I love this time of year. Yet I find my emotions can jump from happiness to a sense of sadness within the same moment. Sometimes I know the cause of the switch, like hearing a certain song on the radio. Other times, no reason seems obvious. I find holidays to be bittersweet: pleasant but tinged with sadness.

Thanksgiving causes some of us to reflect on what makes us grateful. A grateful heart is a joyful heart. But even within joy, our hearts can be sad. Although grateful for the family we have, we miss those no longer with us. We miss family that live afar. The same sadness can come over us during Christmastime.

Advent

Christians call the four weeks leading up to Christmas advent. For four weeks, pastors preach the message of hope, peace, love and joy. Observing advent encourages Christians to reflect on the unexpected nature of Jesus’ humble birth. They also look forward to the time when He will come again to reunite Heaven and Earth.

While in church, we resolve to be vessels of these messages. But because of human nature, we lose what we hear. At times we may succeed for a day or so. A lot of times, we cannot even leave the parking lot before the message leaves us. During the week, the busyness of life takes over. Stress builds. We become less patient, loving, kind. Busyness steals quiet time; it prevents us from hearing God’s voice. God’s voice fills us with hope, peace, love and joy.

Christmas

As a child, we celebrated Christmas Eve with my mom’s large family. Christmas Day we spent with my Dad’s. I remember lots of food and presents. I do not remember church. We went to church otherwise. I think the crowded services and preparation of meals deterred my parents. But in all honesty, my memory fails me.

Since we do not live near my family or my husband’s, we had to make our own traditions. I love these traditions, even though I miss our families back home. Before we moved, we spent a lot of time in the car. Our families lived in two different states; not close but within driving distance. We had no time to go to church. We did not have quality family time.

Now we attend Christmas Eve service. We have a relaxed Christmas morning, celebrating Jesus’ birth with homemade monkey bread. We pull out the china for dinner. Friends make up our extended family.

But time has a way of changing things. This may be our last Christmas in this house. In spite of the goodness that change can bring, it also brings sadness. So, I embrace today and try not to dwell on the future. God only guarantees today anyway, so we might as well make the most of it. Dual emotions continue to co-exist within me.

New Year’s

New Year’s Eve follows on the heels of Christmas. Growing up, my mom hosted New Year’s Eve. My aunts, uncles and cousins would come over. We ate a lot! I cannot remember what we kids did. I do have fond memories of sitting at the table watching the adults play poker.

At midnight, Auld Lang Syne played in the background. Everyone went around, kissing each other’s cheeks, hopeful for a new year. My aunts cried. Every year. It did not matter that their parents and spouses died way before I was born. As a kid, I assumed lost loved ones made them cry. I never asked but now I wonder. Maybe dashed dreams, lost youth also saddened them.

Years may soften the sorrow felt when one loses a loved one. But grief from that loss, I do not think it ever really goes away. Broken hearts mend but scars remain.

New Year’s causes us to reflect on the past year. Although pleased with many things, we also have regrets. We plan for new habits in the new year. We plan for a year of no regrets. We become hopeful.

Holidays

Holidays allow us to celebrate life with family, friends, people dear to us. Traditions develop and nostalgia occurs. Holidays bring joy. Holidays awaken grief. Both can, and do, coexist.

During this holiday season, I encourage you to hug those you love. Call those you love that you cannot hug. Estranged from someone? Maybe take the first step at reconciliation. Reminisce about those no longer with you. Bring God into your life and celebrations.

Embrace and let out all the emotions going on inside you. Cry, smile, weep, laugh.

Rejoice in the hope that Jesus gives us, hope of eternal life without pain and suffering.

Prayer

God, may you fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope. We humble ourselves under your mighty hand so that You may lift up us in due time. Help us to cast all our troubles on You because you care for us. We look forward to the day when You will wipe away every tear. A day where there will be no more death, mourning, crying, pain. Thank You for giving us victory through Jesus.

Romans 15:13, 1Peter 5:6-7, Revelation 21:4, 1 Corinthians 15:5