As I look back on the past year, I cannot help but think of the one that are grieving this holiday season. In 2018, I lost my uncle. At Christmas dinner this year, there was a silence in the room, a somber sound knowing that he was not there. He was full of stories and brought laughter and smiles to everyone he met. He was loved and will always be missed. My dad and his brothers and sister, lost their brother, their best friend. My grandparents lost their son, something that they never though would happen. Parents always think they\u2019ll outlive their children. His wife lost her husband, the one that cherished him for his love and laughter. His children lost a father and grandfather to their children. The painful list continues with family and friends as his life impacted so many around him. He was young, but it was his time to be with the Lord. He spent Christmas with Jesus this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My\nmom and aunt lost their mother, the one that loved them from their very first\nbreath. She was the one that was always there for them, cared for their every need,\nand cherished every moment she had with her girls. I lost a grandmother, a\ngreat grandmother to my children, and a friend that always made me smile. She\nhad a lot of struggles in her life, but the day that the Lord took her home, we\nall had peace knowing that her mind was finally at ease. She was experiencing a\ncalm in the arms of Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\nhave friends that have lost their mother, father, and grandparents. At\nChristmas, there was an empty spot at their family gatherings and broken hearts\naround the room. Others have lost children, young and old, without a reason or\nunderstanding of why. Mothers have had miscarriages leaving them scarred and\nbroken. Young lives have been lost to suicide, victims of depression and pain,\nand family members are lost not knowing how to comfort those they love. I am broken\nfor the parents that have lost their young children. I can recall two sets of\nparents that lost a 17-year-old daughter and another that lost all 3 of her young\nchildren car wrecks. How will they go on? Will they ever recover from the brokenness\nthat they feel?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wherever\nyou are, whatever you may be doing this Christmas, take time to tell the ones\naround you how much you love them. Mend broken relationships, give and accept forgiveness,\nand appreciate every person around you. You never know when your last Christmas\nwith them might be. Wrap your arms around them and remember how blessed you are\nto have them in your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\nmay never understand why lives are lost at certain times, why people die so\nyoung, and why suffering occurs, but we can always find peace in Jesus Christ.\nThe Bible tells us in John 16:33, \u201cI have\nsaid these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will\nhave tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.\u201d<\/em> We can always\nknow that our peace from God alone. Our victory and eternal peace will not be found\non this earth, it will be found in the arms of our Father. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To\nthose that have lost loved ones in the past year, know that if they knew Christ\nas their Heavenly Father, they are with Him experiencing peace that we cannot\neven imagine. They are healthy, not suffering in pain, and not broken or\nhurting over the brokenness of this world. Have peace and know that though they\nare not with you, they are watching over you, waiting for you and the lost ones\naround you, to trust in the Lord. There is only one way to see them again, and\nthat is through trusting in Jesus Christ. If you know that you are a sinner,\nand you know that you need Christ in your life, trust in Him and allow Him to help\nyou overcome the struggles of everyday life. Let Him lead your life and your\nunderstanding will be transformed, your love for others will grow, and your\nlife will forever be changed. I pray that your next year will be a year that glorifies\nGod, impacts those around you, and is filled with love and appreciation for each\nmoment you are blessed with!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n May\nGod Bless you and show you His grace every day!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As I look back on the past year, I cannot help but think of the one that are grieving this holiday season. In 2018, I lost my uncle. At Christmas dinner this year, there was a silence in the room, a somber sound knowing that he was not there. He was full of stories and … Continue reading cherishing christmas<\/span>