Are you grieving at Christmas time?

Ouch. It’s hard to look at all the happy smiles on television that make it look like troubles should disappear because Christmastime is here. It’s hard to answer the questions: “how was your Christmas?”  Or “what did you get for Christmas?” We feel like we are supposed to “work it up” even if  the sentiment’s not there.

What if we asked really tough questions, instead, like, “Were you missing someone at your table this Christmas?” 

Let’s think about the possible answers to that one. I’m going to change the names, but these are all people whom I know and am praying for today: 

Sally just lost a husband, and Yvonna’s son committed suicide a few months ago. Cal’s son isn’t speaking to them and refuses to come over, and Sherree still hasn’t seen her daughter’s new baby who is several months old. Bernie’s kids had a falling out and don’t like to be in the same room together, and Tyrone’s mom just passed away. Katie hasn’t seen her military son in over two years.

All of this reminds me of a couple of things: you don’t know what the person next to you is going thru, so be kind. My dad was a cop and he said that the two busiest domestic disturbance days were Mother’s Day and Christmas (he described a Christmas tree pushed through a television set, once.) We continue to push each others’ buttons, sometimes without realizing it.

All this is to say, have a blessed Christmas: be thankful for who and what you have been blessed with and pray for those who are having a tough time today.

One more thing about the military son….