How can I give thanks when I feel such loss?
There will be several answers to that question depending on where you are in your journey.
Thanksgiving is time to share good food and give thanks for the things that enrich our lives. Though the loved one you've lost will leave an empty seat at the table, celebrating Thanksgiving can be an opportunity for you to return to familiar holiday routines. It may also be a relief to quietly close the door on the outside world and come together with those you love. Thanksgiving is a time for me to celebrate Bob's life and honor him through my enjoyment of holiday traditions ~ those same traditions that he loved so much and looked forward to.
It is so normal for you to wonder how you can possibly give thanks when feeling such loss. Instead of asking why your loved one was taken away, think about why God gave you them in the first place. Thanksgiving is a good time to give thanks for the person who helped make you and your family what they are.
To be sure, there will be sadness. For those who must mark another holiday without their loved one and for those experiencing adversity and the death of someone dear for the first time, it will be tough. But healing will come, and the love we feel for the person who is gone will never go away. We can take it with us as we begin life again.
I am thankful for having Bob in my life and celebrate his life every day! It is my hope and expectation that one day I will rejoin him and other beloved family members who have left us ~and I give my thanks and praise for God who gives me that hope.
Remember, how you choose to celebrate a holiday will be right for you.
Until next time ~ the clouds will clear and you will find your way.
~Paula
No comments:
Post a Comment