Thank you, Donna. Four years ago December 21st, my precious dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer...that Christmas was his last: he died 2 months later in my home on hospice. Daddy loved Christmas...and now it's all I can do to drag myself through the holidays. I do it for my children. I know some think I should be past this by now...I don't think I ever will be.
Thank you for not telling me to snap out of it...and I am so very sorry that you can say "I know"...
The skating video made me teary. For some reason, this Christmas season I am really thinking about my grandparents and all the wonderful Christmases at their house when I was a child, which really makes me miss them. Perhaps it is because for the first time ever my parents aren't able to have a holiday celebration at their house this year because they are in their 80s are aren't up to it. Things change, the years go by, and I understand what you are talking about. I am trying to set aside melancholy feelings and still have a happy Christmas for my children but here and there those feelings come creeping back in.
Donna, I just woke up and was sitting have thinking of all the wistful, sad yet hopeful Christmas carols .
With phrases like ...."yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light , the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight". "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is another example. Or songs where much of the lyrics are a bit melancholy, like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" ... and realized anew that joy and sadness often sit shoulder to shoulder.
I clicked on comments and read yours, above. I love how you have expressed the same, and I am nodding my head in agreement: we soldier on. Amen.
This is the time of the year especially that I "lean into Jesus." There is no snap out of it, there is soldier on in His Grace and with faith. My sister would have been 60 tomorrow. love and prayers and hugs to all, jep
A beautiful post that has encouraged my heart, maybe it will yours too..... Lisa http://www.oneordinaryday.com/2014/12/15/12-days-of-enjoying-christmas-day-5/
When I was in kindergarten, my first dad died on December 21st, leaving my mom with four children ages 7 and under. Five years later she remarried a wonderful man - my second dad. They had two more children and were blessed with almost 30 years of happiness together. He died of cancer 19 years ago on December 12th. My mom couldn't believe she was suffering another loss during the Christmas season. My dad loved Christmas so very much, so we remember that when all six of us "kids" get together with my mom on December 12th every year and celebrate him. Such a mixture of feelings ...
I'm sorry you are feeling sad and will pray for comfort for you and all those feeling pain. Love you. Mean it.
Dear Mary, Thank you for sharing your incredible story. Bless your mom. Thank you for the kind prayers. I am not sad for myself, really, just thinking of how this season affects so many others.
Donna, This is such a beautiful post. My thoughts at this time of the year are so muddled. Grateful for the blessings, heartbroken for the losses. Missing the traditions, lost and hopeful for new traditions. No, there is no "snap out of it" nor should there be. We need to walk through this. Learning and growing with each step. love you mean it c xoxo
Being sensitive to that sadness can be a huge blessing for someone who is struggling. I have several family members dealing with the loss of a loved one this year, plus another who has a diagnosis of melanoma and has to make some tough decisions. It's good to wish them a happy Christmas, but to remember they are not very joyful this year.
My husband's family became so disjointed after losing him and his brother in 2013. Now we're trying to make new traditions. This was a lovely post, Donna. Sarah McLachlan's is my favorite version of River.
My dad died 27 years ago after "successful" surgery. He was only 65 (my age today). My nephew was born several HOURS after our dad passed. We choose to celebrate the joy of a new life than the passing during the Holidays ~ I know our dad would have wanted that but it is still hard at times and, as you say, we "soldier on" through the pain. Good post today ... Linda
I am so sorry for all of the sadness you are feeling. I hope you will feel joy and happiness too as your heart is hurting.
Last week was so sad for us. It was thing after thing. Kaish had an especially hard time. He didn't want to talk about anything. Parenting my teens has been so hard this year. I feel like a failure 10 out of 10 days.
I am going to pray for you right now. Praying for peace and relief from the sadness. This is the song I keep playing over and over this morning: http://youtu.be/zvCBSSwgtg4. I think you told me about it. : )
Thank you, Donna. Four years ago December 21st, my precious dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer...that Christmas was his last: he died 2 months later in my home on hospice. Daddy loved Christmas...and now it's all I can do to drag myself through the holidays. I do it for my children. I know some think I should be past this by now...I don't think I ever will be.
ReplyDeleteThank you for not telling me to snap out of it...and I am so very sorry that you can say "I know"...
Love you...and I mean it.
Beth
(((Beth)))
DeleteHugs and prayers to you, Beth.
DeleteOh Beth. I'm so sorry.
Delete((Hugs)), Beth.
DeleteMary Z
I understand, Beth ... my dad has been gone 27 years and I miss his so much still. Linda
DeleteThank you for this reminder, Donna. Prayers for all who are struggling. You are not alone.
ReplyDeleteLinda
The skating video made me teary. For some reason, this Christmas season I am really thinking about my grandparents and all the wonderful Christmases at their house when I was a child, which really makes me miss them. Perhaps it is because for the first time ever my parents aren't able to have a holiday celebration at their house this year because they are in their 80s are aren't up to it. Things change, the years go by, and I understand what you are talking about. I am trying to set aside melancholy feelings and still have a happy Christmas for my children but here and there those feelings come creeping back in.
ReplyDeleteDebbie Z.
Yes. Hugs to you, Debbie Z.
DeleteYes. I think many of us feel those feelings. But we soldier on.
ReplyDeleteWe learn to live with sadness along side our many joys. We feel deeply... Both ways.
Donna, I just woke up and was sitting have thinking of all the wistful, sad yet hopeful Christmas carols .
ReplyDeleteWith phrases like ...."yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light , the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight". "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is another example. Or songs where much of the lyrics are a bit melancholy, like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" ... and realized anew that joy and sadness often sit shoulder to shoulder.
I clicked on comments and read yours, above. I love how you have expressed the same, and I am nodding my head in agreement: we soldier on. Amen.
- sitting *here*
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't type before coffee.
P.S. I try to choose joy.
At the same time, thanks for not saying "snap out of it".
This is the time of the year especially that I "lean into Jesus." There is no snap out of it, there is soldier on in His Grace and with faith. My sister would have been 60 tomorrow.
ReplyDeletelove and prayers and hugs to all, jep
Hugs, jep.
Delete(((Jep)))
DeleteDitto - hugs and love and prayers back to you, dear jep
Delete((Hugs)), Jep.
DeleteMary Z
Thinking of you, Jep, as you miss your sister. Leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. I, too, am grateful for the comfort of Jesus.
DeleteDebbie Z.
Thank you Dear Ones!
Deletejep
Sending love right back to you and all those who struggle during this time of year.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post that has encouraged my heart, maybe it will yours too..... Lisa http://www.oneordinaryday.com/2014/12/15/12-days-of-enjoying-christmas-day-5/
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in kindergarten, my first dad died on December 21st, leaving my mom with four children ages 7 and under. Five years later she remarried a wonderful man - my second dad. They had two more children and were blessed with almost 30 years of happiness together. He died of cancer 19 years ago on December 12th. My mom couldn't believe she was suffering another loss during the Christmas season. My dad loved Christmas so very much, so we remember that when all six of us "kids" get together with my mom on December 12th every year and celebrate him. Such a mixture of feelings ...
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you are feeling sad and will pray for comfort for you and all those feeling pain. Love you. Mean it.
Mary Z
Dear Mary,
DeleteThank you for sharing your incredible story. Bless your mom. Thank you for the kind prayers.
I am not sad for myself, really, just thinking of how this season affects so many others.
Mary, this is beautiful xxx
DeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful post. My thoughts at this time of the year are so muddled. Grateful for the blessings, heartbroken for the losses. Missing the traditions, lost and hopeful for new traditions. No, there is no "snap out of it" nor should there be. We need to walk through this. Learning and growing with each step.
love you
mean it
c
xoxo
Thank you for that beautiful comment.
DeleteLove you
Being sensitive to that sadness can be a huge blessing for someone who is struggling. I have several family members dealing with the loss of a loved one this year, plus another who has a diagnosis of melanoma and has to make some tough decisions. It's good to wish them a happy Christmas, but to remember they are not very joyful this year.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's family became so disjointed after losing him and his brother in 2013. Now we're trying to make new traditions. This was a lovely post, Donna. Sarah McLachlan's is my favorite version of River.
ReplyDeleteMy dad died 27 years ago after "successful" surgery. He was only 65 (my age today). My nephew was born several HOURS after our dad passed. We choose to celebrate the joy of a new life than the passing during the Holidays ~ I know our dad would have wanted that but it is still hard at times and, as you say, we "soldier on" through the pain. Good post today ... Linda
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for all of the sadness you are feeling. I hope you will feel joy and happiness too as your heart is hurting.
ReplyDeleteLast week was so sad for us. It was thing after thing. Kaish had an especially hard time. He didn't want to talk about anything. Parenting my teens has been so hard this year. I feel like a failure 10 out of 10 days.
I am going to pray for you right now. Praying for peace and relief from the sadness. This is the song I keep playing over and over this morning: http://youtu.be/zvCBSSwgtg4. I think you told me about it. : )