Holding Joy and Grief This Season

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The end-of-year holiday season happens to be my husband’s favorite time of year. I’m not sure if it’s because he comes from a big family and has fond memories tied to this season, or because he still carries that childlike excitement that surrounds Christmas gift exchanges. Maybe he’s just nostalgic for a simpler time in life. But between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Ray tends to let his hair down a bit more. He relaxes his otherwise strict diet just a little, and we spend a tad more time each week watching classic movies.

It’s our son’s first holiday season. And even though he’s too young to understand what’s going on, we’re doing our best to give him a good first experience. One that feels warm and intentional. Still, the holidays aren’t what they used to be for me. It’s not that I’m ungrateful or that I don’t enjoy celebrating. It’s just that they aren’t the same without my grandma. Most of my core memories from this time of year include her. And when we lost her in 2021, I finally understood why some people don’t like the holidays at all. I’m no Scrooge, but I’m definitely not as chipper as I once was.

I’m sharing this because I know I’m not alone. For a lot of us, this season brings a strange mix of joy and grief. I’m not saying we should wallow in sadness or let it overshadow everything good. But I do think it’s okay to be honest about the ache. To name the loss. To admit that things feel different. We’re human, and God knows that.

What I’m learning, still learning, is that I don’t have to carry that weight by myself. My prayer for those of us who are struggling this season is that we would bring our pain to Christ, even if it feels messy or incomplete. Scripture tells us to cast our cares on Him, and while that’s easier said than done, I’m choosing to believe there’s comfort in the trying.

The holidays may never look the same, but God is still present in them. In the joy. In the quiet moments. And even in the grief. Sometimes faith doesn’t look like having all the right words, it looks like showing up, heavy heart and all, and trusting that He’s close enough to meet us there.

Wishing everyone a blessed and joyous holiday season!