Christmas - a time of year so full of joy, of family, of friends that one can almost see the magic in the air - reach out but a little and touch it. I love that about this time of year - the thrill of the season is everywhere.
I decorated our Christmas tree last night, and with virtually every ornament, anticipation for the holiday, for treasured time alone with my son and daughter-in-law built; and with virtually every ornament, scenes from Christmases of years gone by came alive as if the Spirit of Christmas Past held my hand and flew me back through the years, and tears flowed freely: tears of the happiness that was, tears of sorrow for what will never be again, tears of grief for those I will only see once more when I pass from this life.
What a mix of emotions! Although, when it comes to the holidays, I dare to think that I'm not the only one who experiences such elation and sorrow within the same moment. Very few of us escape this life without loss and without grief; and for many, it's this time of year, when excitement abounds, that the loss is felt most acutely.
The heart in pain will give its all to focus on what it has rather than what it's lost, but there are times when the reminders are so strong that that heart is made raw all over again. A mask goes up. Who wants to share sorrow when there are so many reasons to rejoice?
Yet the grieving soul doesn't respond to reason. It feels displaced by its loss, broken apart, crumbling like fertile soil because deep roots have been wrenched from it. Parts of the root are left and parts of the soil are gone, clinging to the tendrils it caressed and loved for such a very long time. The tide of festivities and work moves it along on it's quickly moving current with no time to rest or reflect.
And yet, it is for this very soul that Jesus came. It is for this pain, loss, grief, these things that are only a small part of man's break with his Creator that Christ incarnate made His way to earth that holy night so long ago.
Surely He has born our grief and carried our sorrows. (Isaiah 53:4)
We celebrate Him, the Lover of our soul - the One who knows hurt and separation, unbearable grief. He knows, and He holds our hearts with tender, merciful, kind, loving hands.
I decorated our Christmas tree last night, and with virtually every ornament, anticipation for the holiday, for treasured time alone with my son and daughter-in-law built; and with virtually every ornament, scenes from Christmases of years gone by came alive as if the Spirit of Christmas Past held my hand and flew me back through the years, and tears flowed freely: tears of the happiness that was, tears of sorrow for what will never be again, tears of grief for those I will only see once more when I pass from this life.
What a mix of emotions! Although, when it comes to the holidays, I dare to think that I'm not the only one who experiences such elation and sorrow within the same moment. Very few of us escape this life without loss and without grief; and for many, it's this time of year, when excitement abounds, that the loss is felt most acutely.
The heart in pain will give its all to focus on what it has rather than what it's lost, but there are times when the reminders are so strong that that heart is made raw all over again. A mask goes up. Who wants to share sorrow when there are so many reasons to rejoice?
Yet the grieving soul doesn't respond to reason. It feels displaced by its loss, broken apart, crumbling like fertile soil because deep roots have been wrenched from it. Parts of the root are left and parts of the soil are gone, clinging to the tendrils it caressed and loved for such a very long time. The tide of festivities and work moves it along on it's quickly moving current with no time to rest or reflect.
And yet, it is for this very soul that Jesus came. It is for this pain, loss, grief, these things that are only a small part of man's break with his Creator that Christ incarnate made His way to earth that holy night so long ago.
Surely He has born our grief and carried our sorrows. (Isaiah 53:4)
We celebrate Him, the Lover of our soul - the One who knows hurt and separation, unbearable grief. He knows, and He holds our hearts with tender, merciful, kind, loving hands.
Nice reminder Lori. All too often I choose not to reflect on those sad things for the very reason that I love this time of year for the joy. I am reminded after reading this to reflect on the joy that was birthed from those sad times. - Heather
ReplyDeleteI emotionally rode this story with you as I read it! Your last sentence says it all!!! Thank you, Sissie! Deb
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