Monday, December 19, 2011

For Those who won't be Home for Christmas

For Those who Won’t be Home for Christmas: Reflections on the holiday

Despite the lights and carols, the bells and presents, for many people this is not a joyous season. A large number of the population don’t have homes to celebrate in or don’t have family and friends to celebrate with. Age, poor health, poverty, natural disasters and estrangement from family are just some of the reasons that the holiday will not be happy.

Many who have homes will not be in them due to incarceration, hospitalization or other forced absences. Those who work in the military, medical field, law enforcement or as fire fighters and others whose economic status requires them to work will spend the day away from family through necessity and duty. People far from home, whatever their circumstances are, may not be able to travel home.

People who have lost family and friends through divorce, death, conflict and desertion miss their loved ones especially when all the world around them sings the praises of united and reunited families. Christmas miracles happen to someone else.

The blaring, blinking, ceaseless reminders to shop and spend for the holiday are reminders to members of all religions other than Christianity that they too are excluded from the mainstream.

To you who won’t be home for Christmas I hope and pray you find a spark of happiness this time of year. Maybe from the knowledge that the season only comes once a year. Maybe from the happiness of small children who you don’t even know. For you who won’t be home for Christmas I wish you find a bit hope, even if it’s no bigger than a single grain of sand. You can hold on to that hope through the dark days and darker nights. It really can be better than it is right now. You have not been forgotten.

Whoever and wherever you are, whatever your faith or beliefs, may God bless you.

10 comments:

  1. Great sentiment, Warren. This time of year is hard on people who don't fit inside the box. But then, I forget sometimes that you would know having been a psychologist for years. Like a priest, you know what others hide.

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  2. Thank you for remembering all those who don't fit the Hallmark card images. I suspect many hide their feelings from people around them. Even for those of us who appear to ride a wave of ecstatic happiness, that emotion lasts only a few hours and then it's back to the business of life.

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  3. Thanks, EB,

    Sometimes it's uncomfortable being aware of what is hidden.

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  4. Pauline, You're welcome. For a lot of people this is a very rough time of year.

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  5. I'd like to see you do a holiday story about one of these disenfranchised souls, Warren. Thanks for the post.

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  6. Interesting idea, Kaye. Thanks for the suggestion.

    PS I downloaded your How To Publish on KIndle and found it very helpful.

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  7. Oh good! I'm glad it helped you, Warren. Thanks for telling me.

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  8. That is really touchy post and yes we all suffer but what can we do is pray for others and ourselves. Great post, great thoughts..

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