As I look back on the past year, I cannot help but think of the one that are grieving this holiday season. In 2018, I lost my uncle. At Christmas dinner this year, there was a silence in the room, a somber sound knowing that he was not there. He was full of stories and brought laughter and smiles to everyone he met. He was loved and will always be missed. My dad and his brothers and sister, lost their brother, their best friend. My grandparents lost their son, something that they never though would happen. Parents always think they’ll outlive their children. His wife lost her husband, the one that cherished him for his love and laughter. His children lost a father and grandfather to their children. The painful list continues with family and friends as his life impacted so many around him. He was young, but it was his time to be with the Lord. He spent Christmas with Jesus this year.
My mom and aunt lost their mother, the one that loved them from their very first breath. She was the one that was always there for them, cared for their every need, and cherished every moment she had with her girls. I lost a grandmother, a great grandmother to my children, and a friend that always made me smile. She had a lot of struggles in her life, but the day that the Lord took her home, we all had peace knowing that her mind was finally at ease. She was experiencing a calm in the arms of Jesus Christ.
I have friends that have lost their mother, father, and grandparents. At Christmas, there was an empty spot at their family gatherings and broken hearts around the room. Others have lost children, young and old, without a reason or understanding of why. Mothers have had miscarriages leaving them scarred and broken. Young lives have been lost to suicide, victims of depression and pain, and family members are lost not knowing how to comfort those they love. I am broken for the parents that have lost their young children. I can recall two sets of parents that lost a 17-year-old daughter and another that lost all 3 of her young children car wrecks. How will they go on? Will they ever recover from the brokenness that they feel?
Wherever you are, whatever you may be doing this Christmas, take time to tell the ones around you how much you love them. Mend broken relationships, give and accept forgiveness, and appreciate every person around you. You never know when your last Christmas with them might be. Wrap your arms around them and remember how blessed you are to have them in your life.
We may never understand why lives are lost at certain times, why people die so young, and why suffering occurs, but we can always find peace in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” We can always know that our peace from God alone. Our victory and eternal peace will not be found on this earth, it will be found in the arms of our Father.
To those that have lost loved ones in the past year, know that if they knew Christ as their Heavenly Father, they are with Him experiencing peace that we cannot even imagine. They are healthy, not suffering in pain, and not broken or hurting over the brokenness of this world. Have peace and know that though they are not with you, they are watching over you, waiting for you and the lost ones around you, to trust in the Lord. There is only one way to see them again, and that is through trusting in Jesus Christ. If you know that you are a sinner, and you know that you need Christ in your life, trust in Him and allow Him to help you overcome the struggles of everyday life. Let Him lead your life and your understanding will be transformed, your love for others will grow, and your life will forever be changed. I pray that your next year will be a year that glorifies God, impacts those around you, and is filled with love and appreciation for each moment you are blessed with!
May God Bless you and show you His grace every day!
