Year Of Focus: Week 52 Jesus

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

~Mark 10:27 

The Year of Focus: Week 52

Word of the Week: Jesus

Also called Jesus Christ, the source of the Christian religion.

I don't often write about Jesus, I struggled with my definition of religious following after so much loss. But I have grown to understand that these things were not the cause of my lack of faith, and today I understand that my faith is what held me through the pain and brought me back...

Finding the light has always been my comfort in writing, and this story came after a volley with joy and pain. 

This is the first holiday in many years that I have felt the joy of Christmas. Maybe it is the opportunity to see the world through my grandchildren’s eyes, or the decorations embellishing our home. Or it could be all the gatherings with family and friends that have made this season a delight.

Yet sometimes I feel a happiness so heavy, tears glisten. A heart so full it awakens the trauma of loss and as it surfaces, memories come flooding in. This season has magnified the loss of my parents, and the treasure I had with them. It deepens the devastation of losing a child and it reminds us of the vacant chair where a loved one would sit. The void is an ache that never goes away. Each moment of joy reflects the bittersweet message of all they have missed.

But somehow, even with all the bustle, I can see how each memory from the past illuminates my path, providing light through the darkest parts of grief. Whatever the reason, I know the magic of Christmas comes from the memories that are created while we spend this time with family and friends.