Grief in December
December is a difficult month for grieving people.
This is the time of year when memories often overtake and overwhelm us. Grocery stores break our hearts as they remind us of our loved one’s favorite foods. Department stores make us weep as we yearn to buy a gift for those who are still in our hearts, but no longer with us on this earth. We regret the gifts not given, the words of love that cannot be spoken. We long for an earlier time when things were right. We were watching for Santa to come and all those we loved were safe in their beds. But what does all of that matter now? What will a new toy or a new dress or a new car mean when all that really matters is lost?
Yes, December - and Christmastime is hard for those of us who have lost our loves.
December is also the Advent Season. It is the time when we watch and wait for the coming of Christ. We watch and wait with a deep yearning for the Lord to appear and to speak to us. We need to hear the words of life from Him in our hopelessness.
In stark contrast to our dark emotions, the season of Advent marks a time of hope and joy. It gives us hope that somehow God will show up amidst our pain. But it is a new Advent season. It is different from the ones that have gone before because we are different people now. Death has come to our house and changed everything. We need new words from the Lord to give us courage to go on. We must open our hearts. We must be open and willing to invite Him into our suffering.
Because He has experienced deep pain Himself, we can know that the Lord Jesus is wonderfully able to understand our pain.
With all creation, we groan. But when we welcome our Lord, we do not groan alone. We know that even in the midst of our pain and our loss, we are deeply loved and fully known. When we welcome Him, we somehow find hope that there will come a day when we will be able to live fully again - not just surviving, but thriving, in spite of all of the sadness.
We serve a God who weeps with us and who holds us in the palm of a pierced hand. What a gentle and tender promise that our loving Father will wipe every tear from our eyes. That moment is worth watching and waiting for.
May He come to you in a real way this Christmas Season.
