The holiday season is a time of the year when friends and family get together to enjoy one another. Christmas won’t always be easy for everyone. Many of us will quietly wrestle with hardships and loss. It takes a keen eye to detect them, but here are a few people you might want to note this year.
Those who have lost loved ones. For some people, Christmas dinner will have an empty seat at the table. A familiar laugh might be missing. Traditions precious to that person—maybe passing out gifts or making a certain dessert—will be taken up by someone new to that role. This conspicuous absence could be especially painful for some, who will still be learning how to cope with the loss of a parent, grandparent, child, or longtime spouse.
Those who have suffered some other loss. The end of the year almost demands reflection on what happened in the previous twelve months. For some, this could include some very unpleasant things, like gutting losses of a friendship, a home in a housefire, or a job due to no fault of their own. These people certainly didn’t think their year would end up like this.
Those with family members serving abroad. This could include service personnel in a branch of the armed forces, but it might include someone on the mission field. These are noble callings, and those who forge these paths deserve support from friends and family, but it does tend to make holidays more difficult when experiencing the sacrifices loved ones have chosen to make for a greater cause.
Those facing terminal illness. No one knows when our time will come. But for the terminally ill, the holidays have a tincture of sorrow. Everyone will struggle under the weight of a silent burden: this is someone’s last Christmas, and it needs to count. Holidays are supposed to be joyful and bright, but for some, they will be overshadowed by a sweet sadness for everyone involved.
The impoverished. Christmas is a time full of sparkly things, and those things are often expensive. For those who have lost jobs, had a bad run of luck, or are suffering from the poor financial decisions they (or someone else) have made, this time of the year isn’t quite so merry. Children will question why their families aren’t as well-off as others, and parents will feel guilty and ashamed of themselves for not being able to afford better.
Those in difficult ministry positions. Many ministers and elders have been here. The typical loneliness ministers feel will be even more palpable, and church leaders in trying times will be weighed down when trying to enjoy the season while shouldering the burden of a church problem.
The glittering lights and pretty packages may be a delight to many of us, but we shouldn’t forget that the true spirit of Christmas isn’t found under beautiful trees or in stockings by the fireplace; it’s within the human heart as it pours out the love, kindness, and compassion that many at this time of year so desperately need.
By all means, enjoy the holidays. But let’s act with the spirit of Christ to make sure that everyone’s celebrations are merry and bright.
Looking at All Things Biblically 