Merry Christmas?

Although Christmas is my favorite time of year, Christmas is not “merry” for many.

The holiday season can become a catalyst that accentuates grief, sparks depression and brings about a range of emotions, some of which we would rather not face. Not everyone has a legacy of Christmas memories that leave them feeling warm and cozy.

This Christmas will be one for many who are struggling with loss, and a great number of them may be relieved when the holidays are over.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Some people may very well need to tend their wounds instead of catering to the expectations of other people.

Insisting those who are hurting be joyful is unrealistic. We can’t always understand someone’s pain, but we can certainly respect it.

By faith, I am trusting God that much joy and laughter awaits us this Christmas.

 One reason we celebrate the birth of Christ is the promise of a new life that doesn’t suffer the ills and pains of this earthly world. Those who trust Him have a promise of something better for eternity.

Through faith, we win the mental battle that allows us to see the light that eventually breaks after every storm. Jesus is the Light of the world elevating us above despair and defeat. If you are feeling overcome, look to the Light!

Call on Him.

If you are hurting this Christmas season, my prayer is that you receive His peace on earth and goodwill from men!

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NKJV

By Lilka Finley Raphael

Author, Editor, Gardner, Photographer, Pharmacist

16 comments

    1. You are very welcome.
      Today would have been the day my mother would have flown in for Christmas had she not passed away in March. My father passed away 12/23/2000. I have shed many tears today. Yet, I heard something that helped a bit first thing this morning. Some things you never get over, you just get past them.
      Not a “merry” day for me today but still grateful for many great memories from Christmases past. Peace to you…

      Liked by 1 person

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  3. True. No happy endings. My personal feeling is that the media, society, churches, and of course department stores tend to idealize and romanticize Christmas ~~ a holiday that contains suffering for those who don’t fit in or who have been kicked to the curb by the 1% or life in general. I suppose it’s just me. Christmas Day while I’m at work I will think about my cousin who passed away Christmas 2014 and one of my colleagues who was found dead in his apartment Christmas day. It will never be a day of happiness for me. Childhood is long gone and reality has set in.

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  4. As a retired RN and my wife a hospice CNA, we can appreciate your words. Bonnie creates memory bears for families and the ones sent at Christmas time are especially sad. Thank you for remembering those who hurt during the Christmas season. May the Christ Child bless and keep them and may God bless us, everyone.

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    1. Thank you so much for taking time to comment. What a loving way to comfort those who are grieving!
      May God indeed bless us to do our part as we spread peace on earth and extend goodwill to men this Christmas season. A Very Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🙂

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  5. Amen… Thanks for this post.
    Christmas is not “merry” for many : This is so True, on the 1st day of This same Month, I lost my childhood Friend. That alone for sure can make this Christmas not a Merry one for me, but i am currently in a point in Life that i have come to realize that to everything there is a Time and purpose.
    Christ paid the greatest price for us all including for that my Friend, and i am rest assured that Christ knows what’s best for us all..
    Merry Christmas in Advance

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  6. Thanks for writing this. Many don’t acknowledge grief, sadness or despair.
    I’m not really a Christmas person and I don’t celebrate Christmas. After my parents died my cousins helped me to clean out their house and the Christmas tree plus all the ornaments went into the garbage. That was 20 years ago.
    Since then I’ve had many relatives and friends to die right before Christmas. In fact 2014 I was making funeral arrangements for my cousin who died from cancer.
    I do participate in Christmas events for my brother Stephen. And the Holiday party at work. One must appear social. Next year I will retire from my current job and and drop that fake celebration. Also my job requires me to work Christmas day so it has no significance for me

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    1. I totally get it. Most “Christians” expect everyone to be merry but I have noticed working in healthcare it appears there are far more deaths that occur around the holidays or at least the impact of those deaths is more pronounced at this time.

      The point of this post is to make people think and show compassion to those who are hurting and not make light of their feelings. Peace on earth can begin with us if we allow it.

      I have no doubt you will ensure Stephen has a “Merry Christmas.” 😀 Peace and blessings to you both!

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      1. Yes I make sure that Stephen has gifts since I don’t see him Christmas day. The holidays are a blackout period for my job. The bosses want you at work not home. If I can arrange time off before Christmas I will devote that time to Stephen. One good thing about working Christmas day is extra money which I need more than holiday glitz.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I work in a museum located on the Upper East side of Manhattan. The Gold Coast of New York city. Million dollar apartments, doorman buildings, private schools. I live in one of the poorest neighborhoods with homeless shelters, halfway houses, little or no amenities or even basic services. I work nights as a museum security guard and when I get off work after midnight I see the homeless. I see people living on the streets sleeping in cardboard boxes. Thousands of homeless people living in the subways. Many mentally ill. I see the juxtaposition of the wealthy vs the poor. To be honest Christmas has become a national day of greed and commercialism. Trust me that January 1, 2018 that poverty will still be there. Christmas does not mean much and there are no happy endings like in fairytales.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I suspect much of America has managed to commercialize Christmas like no other country and presume to strip Christ from Christmas in the process. Many people celebrate Christmas yet have no revelation of Christ.
        “My Christmas” goes beyond things commercial and I celebrate a blessing of things eternal.
        There is much that I don’t understand in our country, especially how .01% of the population has a stronghold on the vast majority of resources in this nation. God never promises us “happy endings” on this earth. Still, we have a hope and a future for the best yet to come!

        Liked by 1 person

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