Introduction
Merry Christmas To a Broken Heart
December is near, and it is sometimes very difficult.
I wanted to share the introduction to Merry Christmas To A Broken Heart with you. If you or someone you know is struggling with the holidays due to loss, divorce, illness, or heartache, consider sharing this devotional guide with them. There is a reading for every day of the month of December. (Can be purchased HERE). Here is the introduction to the book.
I struggled with deciding to write this book. The holiday season is challenging for those of us who have suffered losses. I did not want to contribute to the nostalgia and sentimentality that can swamp broken hearts at this time of year. At the same time, some blessings and remembrances are highlighted this time of year that lift the spirit and bring us a smile, if only for a moment. Since I cannot repair broken hearts and call a cease-fire with grief for the holidays, I decided to write with a hopeful perspective and also remain mindful of the holiday struggles. So, this is a December devotional (although, you can read it anytime).
My friend Elizabeth said that she would like to go to sleep before Thanksgiving and wake up after the New Year. The holidays were such a painful reminder of her daughter, who passed away just before Christmas many years ago. Without a doubt, she loved the rest of her family, but this was just a way for her to express a certain grief that attended her holidays. I understand that. I imagine you do, too.
Grief comes in many forms. For some, it is a death in the family. For someone else, it may be a divorce that led to estrangement. Maybe some feel forgotten by their family or friends during this season of celebration, marking the days of loneliness and sorrow. Significant health issues can bring about grief as well, a friend of mine suggested. I hadn’t thought of that, but I see it. Whatever caused you to feel disaffected during the holiday season, I hope these brief chapters bring some light into the darkness.
I want to highlight two things to look for during this month of devotional thoughts. First, the Scriptures are God’s communication with us, and we should be open to their message. Second, prayer is our communication to God. By appealing to Scripture and prayer, we open the door of contact with our Abba who loves us deeply despite how it may appear at the moment. I invite the Lord to join us in this journey through the holidays.
These devotionals are not in a particular order. They may revisit some stories of the New Testament more than once. I encourage you to mark the ones that mean the most to you and return to them later in the month or any month during the year. Our grief and heartache do not care what month it is. Grief does not schedule itself with a calendar.
I realize there are many different traditions and interpretations of Christmas. Some religious people do not even recognize Christmas! I am going to approach the holidays from a traditional Christian perspective. I hope the principles offered will overcome any disagreement with the holiday connections.
Thank you for inviting me into this hectic time of year. I hope you will feel how gentle I intend these reminders to be. Remember that my family will go through the celebrations and miss some of the smiles that used to be with us. Our empty chairs were once filled with parents, siblings, and one special son.
We do not ignore the pain and heartache of loss. Like Elizabeth, we wish we could avoid the pain. Even so, we try to smile some. With no extra pressure, we take each day as it comes, knowing that soon, we will awaken in a new year. Grief will still be with us, but the holidays will be over—this year.”
— Merry Christmas to a Broken Heart: A Devotional Companion for December by John Dobbs
Very very important. Thank you for making this to help others whose holiday season may look very different than the rest.