It's a bad time of year to be hurting. Not that there is a good time for pain, of course, but the weeks around Christmas and New Year's can be particularly poignant for some.
I know of what I speak. While sparing you my life story (for now at least; consider such sparing a temporary gift), I will say that I've had a couple of Christmases in which I just wanted to hide away to wait out that year's crop of holly-jolly songs and plastic bows and ho-ho-hos.
I suspect many of us have had such seasons. Times when we can't be with loved ones, or a parent or sibling or close friend or spouse has died, or we've suffered a miscarriage, or we're sick, or we've lost our job, or there is illness in the family. Even the time of year can make us feel blue. Here in the northern hemisphere, night falls early in these months of bleak midwinter (I personally never adjust well to the long long long long dark).
I am thankful to be celebrating comfortably this year. But for anyone reading this who is sad, in pain, or maybe just wishing the holidays would be over and gone - know that you're not alone.
In fact, you are so "not alone" that I'm going to ask a favor of everyone reading this.
Could we each take just a minute and offer a little prayer for anyone coming across these words who might be hurting? If this gets to a number of people, that could amount to quite a few prayers.
May God lift burdens, heal pains, comfort loneliness, and soothe hearts. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, I pray...
'We beseech You, Lord and Master, be our help and succor, save those among us who are in tribulations, have mercy on the lowly, lift up the fallen, show Yourself to the needy, heal the ungodly; convert the wanderers of Your people, feed the hungry, release our prisoners, raise up the weak, comfort the fainthearted, let all nations know You are God.' (St. Clement of Rome)
'Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for You.' (1 Peter 5:7)
Painting: Karl Ferdinand Sohn
This post is linked to Catholic Bloggers Monthly Linkup
Oh yes, I'll join you in prayer right now, Nancy. I loved this prayer from St. Clement of Rome.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. I hope anyone stopping by is encouraged to know that others are praying for them (I know for sure that there are more doing so than we who leave comments). I've been praying all evening (as I've done "chores") for everyone looking in here.
DeleteVery meaningful. I think of my mom in particular. She misses my dad, her beloved. Even though this is the seventh Christmas without him, and even though she puts on a smiling face for her children and grand babes, her heart still aches for him. Especially at this time of the year. It is so important for all of us to stop and think about and pray for whoever is burdened with such sadness at this time of year. And even in my own little world, I need to look beyond my mother and at all. I can't stop just at my mother…I shouldn't stop there. God bless!
ReplyDeletePatty, I will add special prayer for your mom. God bless all of you!
DeleteNancy thank you for these words. Last year I had just lost my Mother and choose to spend the day alone, remembering and being grateful for her many years with us.
ReplyDeleteI, too, lost a close relative not long before Christmas one year. Thank you for stopping by to comment - I pray that you will have a peace-filled 2014.
ReplyDelete