Blue Christmas

Several years ago, our church offered a "Blue Christmas" service. This service was designed for people who were not merrily celebrating Christmas. Some people were grieving the recent loss of a loved one. Some were remembering loved ones gone long ago. Some were emotionally not merry about the holidays. Others may have been facing financial hardships, thus making the holiday very depressing. Whatever the reason, the service offered traditional hymns of healing, a comforting message of hope, and a time that these hurting persons could escape the overly jubilant time of the season.

A recent song by Matthew West, "One Last Christmas", makes me remember those who are hurting during this time of year. While most of us are celebrating at gatherings with great joy, some are grieving and hurting deep within their souls. This song was written in memory of a sweet child who lost his struggle with cancer. He absolutely loved the Christmas season. His parents received news that he would not make it to see another Christmas. So, they made the decision to decorate for Christmas in the fall so their son could celebrate Christmas one last time.

My point of this entry is to acknowledge that while most of us are celebrating during this joyous time of year, others of us are struggling--with hurt, with grief, with anger, with loss. We should be aware of others' feelings. We should pray for them. We should respect their emotions, not condemn them for how they feel. Maybe one day, their struggle will ease, and they may be able to enjoy the season for its true reason--God's gift of His Son to us.

I will close with the words of the Matthew West song, "One Last Christmas". It is my prayer for you to either find peace during this season or to support someone who is struggling during this time of year.

"One Last Christmas"

It's the news no one hopes for,
Every parent's greatest fear
Finding out the child you love so much
Might not make it through the year

Now the thought of spending Christmas
Without him just feels wrong
They've been praying for a miracle
Now they're praying he can just hold on

CHORUS:
For one last Christmas, one last time
One last season when the world is right,
One more telling of the story
One more verse of Silent Night,
They'd give anything so he could have
One last Christmas

Middle of September
Still seventy degrees
Daddy climbs up in the attic
Brings down candles
Hangs the lights on all the trees,
Then the neighbors started asking
And pretty soon word got around
First it was the neighborhood,
Before too long they lit up that whole town

For one last Christmas, one last time
One last season when the world is right,
One more telling of the story
One more verse of Silent Night,
They'd give anything so he could have
One last Christmas

Twenty-seventh of October,
His time was wearing thin
Friends and family, even strangers
That they didn't know brought presents in
He was weak but he was smiling
Like there was nothing even wrong
They said he wouldn't make it,
Looks like he got to see it after all

For one last Christmas, one last time
One last season when the world is right,
One more telling of the story
One more verse of Silent Night,
They'd give anything so he could have
One last Christmas.