Isn’t she lovely??!?!?! Of course the kid is, but I don’t know about the get-up. My wife and daughter think it’s to die for. I don’t know! I don’t think I understand a lot of the hoopla surrounding Christmas. I do know this. If your life is in a good season when Christmas rolls around, it makes a great time to celebrate with family and friends. But if you’re going through painful struggles, or you’ve recently lost someone you love deeply, this season can multiply the pain geometrically.
I have just posted our Lifestream Christmas greeting on the website. It is called The Two Faces of Christmas, and we hope it encourages you however you find life facing you in this season. We are so blessed by all the connections that Father has given us in his incredible kingdom and are so grateful for all of you who have touched our lives this past year. May God overwhelm you with his grace and joy, in whatever you might be going through in this season of your life, and lead you ever closer to his heart.
In an unrelated note, I have on good authority that a new chapter in the Jake Colsen story has just been posted at jakecolsen.com. The last chapter will be posted on Christmas day.
Wayne, that was so beautiful! You expressed very well how difficult this time of year is for those of us going through pain and loss–which is largely disregarded by those around us because it makes them uncomfortable and reaching out to the hurting might diminish their celebration, or worse, they are just too busy.
I had long been in the category of those frustrated by “frenzied shopping and crass materialism”. For years we gradually downplayed the hoopla of the Christmas season, until with seven children it got to be so much that we simplified with a few group gifts and just tried to enjoy the season.
But when our son was killed, I just wanted Christmas to *disappear*, especially since it happened in early December. Friends were supportive enough at the beginning, but when Christmas rolled around it was as though everyone forgot about us. The exception was one family, who we were not even that close to, but who took the time to drop by on Christmas Eve that year with a giant gift basket and a short visit. It wasn’t the gift that mattered, it was the gesture and the message that we weren’t forgotten.
It has now been three years, and through God’s healing I find myself beginning to enjoy the season a little bit again, but still we have greatly simplified since we know what is important. A loss at Christmastime is a pain so acute you cannot imagine it unless you have gone through it. But the pain of being neglected because it might but a damper on your holiday “joy” compounds it immeasurably–and makes all that “celebrating” look all the more superficial to the ones in pain. For me it made me want to disregard Christmas altogether.
We have come through that season of suffering, and though I suspect Christmastime will always be bittersweet, it is now more sweet than bitter. It takes a lot of time and healing, and for those going through it, your advice is invaluable: even if they don’t want to join in celebrating, let them know they are not forgotten, and lighten their load.
But in the end, of course, it is the Lord who comforts and gives healing. For that I am very grateful!
Jean
Wayne, that was so beautiful! You expressed very well how difficult this time of year is for those of us going through pain and loss–which is largely disregarded by those around us because it makes them uncomfortable and reaching out to the hurting might diminish their celebration, or worse, they are just too busy.
I had long been in the category of those frustrated by “frenzied shopping and crass materialism”. For years we gradually downplayed the hoopla of the Christmas season, until with seven children it got to be so much that we simplified with a few group gifts and just tried to enjoy the season.
But when our son was killed, I just wanted Christmas to *disappear*, especially since it happened in early December. Friends were supportive enough at the beginning, but when Christmas rolled around it was as though everyone forgot about us. The exception was one family, who we were not even that close to, but who took the time to drop by on Christmas Eve that year with a giant gift basket and a short visit. It wasn’t the gift that mattered, it was the gesture and the message that we weren’t forgotten.
It has now been three years, and through God’s healing I find myself beginning to enjoy the season a little bit again, but still we have greatly simplified since we know what is important. A loss at Christmastime is a pain so acute you cannot imagine it unless you have gone through it. But the pain of being neglected because it might but a damper on your holiday “joy” compounds it immeasurably–and makes all that “celebrating” look all the more superficial to the ones in pain. For me it made me want to disregard Christmas altogether.
We have come through that season of suffering, and though I suspect Christmastime will always be bittersweet, it is now more sweet than bitter. It takes a lot of time and healing, and for those going through it, your advice is invaluable: even if they don’t want to join in celebrating, let them know they are not forgotten, and lighten their load.
But in the end, of course, it is the Lord who comforts and gives healing. For that I am very grateful!
Jean
Wonderful greeting Wayne. It has been likewise very blessed for many of us to have crossed paths with you. You have helped so many of us to take a scary but very rewarding path in this journey called life. Love you all. By the way Aimee Noelle is adorable.
Wonderful greeting Wayne. It has been likewise very blessed for many of us to have crossed paths with you. You have helped so many of us to take a scary but very rewarding path in this journey called life. Love you all. By the way Aimee Noelle is adorable.