It’s the most wonderful time of the year—or so we’re told... For some, the holidays bring not joy but despair, loneliness, and depression. If you’ve ever felt a pang of sadness during the holidays, you’re not alone. For many, this season magnifies feelings of loss, isolation, or unmet expectations. I’m often asked: How can I walk alongside someone who is depressed—especially during the holidays?
Receipts. Good for noting what we’ve received. Plus maybe a 35-cent coupon. In the physical. But on the spiritual side—the eternal—there’s no way to fully note all we’ve received in Christ.
Q: How can you endure Christmas if you have just lost a loved one? So many of us understand the ache of loosing a loved one, especially during the holidays. My father died the Sunday before Thanksgiving, which plunged me into grief. That December, I had gum surgery and then succumbed to the flu. I battled depression throughout that holiday. The joy around me accentuated my sorrow and the empty place in my heart.
Here’s what I’ve been thinking about—there is a present of discovery as we sink into God’s presence every day. You hear that? Present. Presence. We get to unwrap His presents—these gifts He’s giving us—in His presence. Every single day. But do we? Do we wait for them? Do we see them? Do we have that anticipation, that excitement we had as kids circling things in the Sears catalog? Or have we just ... lost the wonder?
Here’s the thing about those Pinterest quotes, those “Choose Joy This Christmas” signs—when you’re at your lowest, they just bounce off you. They’re flat. One-dimensional words that don’t mean anything when you’re suffocating inside your own head while everyone else is singing carols.
By Linda Evans Shepherd Linda Evans Shepherd As I write to you, my Christmas tree is glowing softly in the corner— each light a tiny reminder of the miracle we…
When Joan C. Benson and Marjorie Wingert drove six hours together to a writers conference, neither predicted they would embark on a divinely orchestrated partnership. Together, Benson and Wingert bridge generations, cultures, and abilities to create children’s books addressing today’s most challenging topics.
As the world sings, “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” tragedy can suddenly zap away our joy. Loved ones can pass away, and lives can be turned upside down.
The story of Christmas is so familiar we might overlook the new heart available from a powerful Creator who became a babe in a manger.
Q: Amid the Christmas traditions of Santa Claus, trees, and presents, how can Christians celebrate while staying true to the holiday’s deeper spiritual meaning? A: The modern Santa Claus is actually a fascinating transformation of a remarkable historical figure.