Most people look forward to the Christmas holiday season. It often brings joy to children who anticipate opening their presents that they had received. I can remember waking up Christmas morning excited to see what was left under the tree. However, not everyone is excited for the holiday season. It is a sad time for some. As life goes on we encounter the loss of our loved ones. We remember the days when they were here. During the holiday season, some become depressed due to those whom they loved no longer being able to enjoy the holiday season with them. How can those who struggle with the holiday season survive? What can be done to help with this? My purpose in this article is, to the best of my ability, to help with this matter. How can we help or overcome?
Let them know how much God loves them. Sometimes people will feel unwanted or unloved during the holiday season. It is not because they are in reality unloved. It is because of their grief from missing their loved one. We can help this by letting them know how much God loves them. This is shown in John 3:16 when Jesus said “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 WEB). God loves them enough that He gave everything He could for man to have eternal life. Think about the words of Paul. Paul wrote, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Romans 5:6-9 LSB). This fact helps us to know that we are truly loved. Jesus indeed said “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 LSB).
Let them know that they are not alone. This goes with the previous point. Sometimes people not only feel unloved but will also feel alone during this period. We need to know that God will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). David felt abandoned and we know this from Psalm 22. Our Lord quoted from this Psalm on the cross (Matthew 27:46) to show how He felt as well. In both of these cases, neither was in reality abandoned. God was still with David even though he felt abandoned. The Father was with Jesus at His crucifixion as well. Our Lord and David understands what it means to feel loneliness. This encourages us to know that we are not the only ones suffering. Also in both cases, their faith and dedication remained to God. This goes with the scripture that says, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16 LSB).
Invite them to be with you for the holiday(s). We should try to do our best to shine forth the light of Christ in our lives toward others. As we have discussed, there are people without family, people grieving loss, and so much more during the holiday season. Your kindness toward them may just help that grieving soul continue his dedication to the Lord. Paul said it best when he wrote, “rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:12-15 LSB). The lonely one must know how much they are cared for and loved. Even if they don’t have physical family, let them know that they do have a spiritual family. Let us do our part in helping others in need.
It is this author’s hope that we will take the things that have been discussed here and apply it to our own walk of life. If we all do our part, then I am confident that we can get through the holidays together. Always remember to “…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 LSB). Have a merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season! May “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” (Galatians 6:18 LSB).
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