Several times this week I’ve had messages or seen posts from bereaved parents feeling like failures because Christmas is STILL hard, even many years after their child went to Heaven.
Some of them heaped the guilt on themselves but many were responding to a family member or friend who felt compelled to tell them they should “be better by now” or “remember their other children” or “not ruin the holiday for everyone else”.
Other broken hearted parents have shared that they actually felt stronger and better able to face Christmas in years past but this year is hitting differently.
For them, it might be because Christmas is never JUST Christmas.
We come to this season with memories and emotional baggage of a lifetime. And for bereaved parents, the heaviest load we carry is our child(ren)’s absence. We also bear the additional burden of this particular year’s challenges, losses, physical and emotional stress and whatever lesser, but also energy intensive, cares and responsibilities we may have.
So I’d like to encourage my fellow road weary travelers.
Be gentle with yourself.
Take care of yourself first (when possible-I know littles make that much harder). You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Have honest conversations with those that matter most to you and limit conversation with those that only make you sadder and more stressed.
If you are concerned about your earthbound children, now is a perfect time to take them aside-one on one- and let them know that if it had been THEM, they would be equally grieved and missed.
Remember that saying “no” is a complete sentence. You don’t have to make excuses or satisfy someone else’s curiosity.
If you are at your limit for making merry, don’t.
There is no moral imperative that Christ’s birth be celebrated at all (although I think it’s a beautiful tradition). You have not failed Him or anyone else if you can’t participate in all the church activities this time of year.
This is the twelfth Christmas for us after Dominic ran ahead to Heaven and it’s a tough one.
For the first time since the first one, I’ve been unable to do even one thing to get ready or incline my heart toward anything like a “regular” Christmas.
My father suffered a major stroke in September and I have been at his home with him since then. My oldest son is expecting his third child and his wife is having complications that guarantee this little one will make an early appearance. Every member of my family is in different places and we are reduced to short phone calls and text messages for connection.
I would usually at least have a lovely pine scented candle to light each dark morning and evening but my father can’t tolerate the smell. So even this one ritual has been denied.
I’m trying desperately to get care lined up for my dad while worrying about the ever changing status of my DIL and granddaughter. The internet is slow, cell service is worse and I spend way too much time just attempting to contact people.
My father refuses to go anywhere for Christmas and I will, undoubtedly, be with my son’s family by then if the baby comes.
I’m sharing all that to say this: Every other challenge and burden is heaped on top of the already unbearable weight of missing Dominic. I’ve been barely dragging myself through each day.
So I’m taking my own advice.
I talked to my family and together we’ve agreed that we are streamlining and eliminating everything except what’s necessary for the grandchildren to have Christmas. The adults are fine.
I love my father but he is in his right mind (despite the stroke) and if he wants to be alone at Christmas, that’s his choice.
I’m putting on my stretchy pants and enjoying whatever holiday cheer my husband, my children and I can muster as we (hopefully) bask in the glow of a tiny new life.
So if you are struggling, dear heart, find the way forward that lifts as many burdens as you can.
Refuse to take on another person’s baggage.
Jesus came so that we don’t have to carry this alone.
He is here-Immanuel-God With Us.
Melanie
thelifeididntchoose 