I started writing this last week on a windy, rainy day from my home in southern New England. It was 61 degrees. We won’t see that temperature probably again for a few months.
Our artificial tree with lights that comes in three parts is assembled and plugged in. I’ll get to the ornaments in the next few days. Our little funky display of holiday figures in our entryway is done. Our decorations are nothing compared to what I see friends post on Facebook or what you can find on Pinterest. That’s OK. It’s ours. And when I get to doing the tree ornaments, hanging the few handcrafted ones my adult daughters made when they were little kids will bring a smile to my face!
I put together my gift list for shopping and have one more present to buy. I mailed the out-of-town gifts to arrive in time.
My husband and I are practicing four choir pieces for our Christmas Eve church service. As part of the glee club in our community, we did three performances of the holiday concert a week ago. My favorite pieces from that program were Prayer for Shalom and Peace, Peace. Music truly is good for the spirit!
This season should be a time of joy yet for many it is a difficult time of grieving, especially when it’s the “first” holiday without a loved one. And for people who shop for a lot of gifts and people hosting family or friends, it can become a very stressful time.
I’ve written a few blogs over the years during the holidays that are worth revisiting. Here are excerpts from a few of them:
Holidays aren’t fa-la-la for everyone
As you celebrate the joy and wonder of this holiday season, make room for those who are grieving. Find kindness in your heart for all around you but give special support and love to those who may need it the most at this time of the year. If you have experienced loss, let those close to you surround you with their love.
Grief and loss during the holidays
Being mindful of what others may be experiencing is so important. I won’t pretend to be an expert in helping people process their grief, but I have certainly experienced it with family members. Being aware of what they are going through, letting them talk openly about it, and just listening is my best advice. There are no right words.
Holiday stress? Remember your big rocks
It’s the holiday season. Are you stressing or relaxing? Are you hosting or bringing a dish to someone’s house? Are you braving the highways or airports? Are you questioning whether you bought the right gifts for all the right people? Or trying to figure out when you can possibly take time to do gift shopping. Are you arguing with family over something that later you’ll decide was stupid? So many ways to be stressed at this time of year. And so many ways to be with people we love.
During this Season of Gratitude, I hope you can find time to pause, reflect, and be grateful for friends and families, for the beauty of nature, and for the simple joys of everyday life. And if you are in any type of service job where you must work on holidays, my thanks for all you do. My wish for you is that your family accommodates your schedule so you too can spend time with your “big rocks”.