“The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.” (Psalm 30:5 MSG)
During the holidays, there are probably only a rare few who have not experienced memories of the way things were in the past, during holiday times. In some cases the persons who made times the most memorable, if they were believers, have gone home to be with the Lord. For some that has been decades ago, some years ago, and some more recently. Thank God that those persons are at home with the Lord; a place of peace and joy. Even though these persons are missed and spoken of aloud with smiles in conversations or in the recesses of our minds, it appears inevitable that sorrow, uninvited, seems to interfere with our joy and introduces some degree of holiday blues. But just knowing that they are with the Lord, we can say to our sorrow, “You may be excused now!” Nevertheless, usually the missing part prevails. It remains and that is really quite normal. However, as sorrow is swept away by God’s sweet assurances and sure, awesome promise of eternal life, we are left with room in our minds to revisit those really good times and reach into the future times, times of a reunion in glory; times that await us on God’s celestial shore. Don’t forget, in the meantime life must go on.
Fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers and others so dear and so close to us may have had their homegoing celebration before us and sometimes it was unexpected, unsuspected, and always unwanted. When our loved ones are not around for the holidays because they are at home with the Lord, or even in cases where it is hard to get to our loved ones that are still in the land of the living due to the pandemic’s painful, prolonged, and perturbing visit or other natural physical ailments, it is natural to experience some degree of sadness or what we call the holiday blues. This is where we need some remedies. I will give you three: (1) Change our thought processes. Think of all the days of laughter. Think of the good times. Think of the times where you finally got old enough to reflect on those “remember when” times. Think of those times that had you laughing so hard that tears came out of your eyes and your stomach was shaking faster than that fictional character in the faded red and white suit; the one the character that drives a sleigh that has never had a recall. Think of the funny things the person you are missing and you shared. Think of the joy that you will be filled with in glory, an everlasting an unfading joy. Now while you are thinking, be aware of the fact that our adversary will try to pull you back, have you sit down in the holiday blues chair and chain you with a restraining sadness. Don’t let him change your thought processes. (2) Consider God’s purpose. Perhaps God’s purpose for calling a loved one home was to replace pain with pleasure for that person. Perhaps God’s purpose was to simply recognize that the persons you are missing had fulfilled His purpose in their life and it was time for them to move from labor to rest and reward. Perhaps God was satisfied that the individuals whose company is absent from the family gathering or in this day and time, the family virtual visits; perhaps they had cultivated spiritual growth in others; did their expected share of planting seeds that would sprout up in faithful harvests of believers in generations to come. In some cases, perhaps that person you loved was not the one you He really wanted you to be with for the rest of your life. In any event, consider that God’s purpose was to teach us to live a faithful life like those who preceded us as well as those who were not planned for us. Keep holding to God’s unchanging hand for His purposes are always best. (3) Clutch on to your faith. Your faith will see you through. Live out your declaration, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” That includes overcoming those nighttimes of life called “the holiday blues.”
Keep your memories. Be reassured that the sadness you may experience is normal, but there are remedies to help you through moments of sorrow. In addition to your praying to our prayer hearing God, actually try some of the remedies above. My prayers are with you and I will practice what I preach right alongside you. It’s Saturday morning; a day to experience joy in the morning. Oh yes, the normal pre-Lord’s Day reminder: “Worship tomorrow!” This too will help you my friend. Be strengthened and of course, “Be blessed!”
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” (Psalm 23:5 NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King