For some, the Holidays are filled with joyous fellowship with friends and family. For others, they are a bitter reminder of loneliness, unmet expectations, and grief.
“If you feel depressed or lonely at this time of year, you’re not alone. A survey by the American Psychological Association showed that 38 percent of people report increased stress during the holiday season” (2022, Comprehensive Primary Care)
It has been said the day after Christmas is known as D-Day, but not for what you would expect. They call it D-Day because many people wait until after the Holidays to divorce. Those with families that are still together may have a hard time showing up to Holidays because of fear/shame because they have not reached expectations in their life and it is a stark reminder of their shortcomings or failures. Or, loving families that were once there are no longer there due to death, tragedy, or as mentioned before divorce.
One of the loneliest things in life is being surrounded by happy/joyful people in a happy/merry time and feeling hurt, lost, and depressed inside. This is not a new concept, even Hemingway has said,
“Even when I was in a crowd,
I was always alone.”
—Ernest Hemingway
Loneliness can drive a person to the depths of their soul looking for a way out. The easy way out. To end it all in suicide. If that’s the easy way out, what is the hard way? The hard way is to push through the pain (feel it, admit it, don’t ignore it). Go to God and give him your burdens. Surrender those weary thoughts and burdens to Him and trust Him to carry you through those hard moments as it says in Matthew 11:28.
Go to God and give him your burdens. Surrender those weary thoughts and burdens to Him and trust Him to carry you through those hard moments as it says in Matthew 11:28. Trust that He will strengthen you and carry you through and believe the truth that it WILL get better, it WILL get brighter. You WILL be made whole and filled with peace, love, and compassion at the other end of the pain.
Put your focus on Him and loving others and watch as your sorrow and grief turns to satisfaction and glee. You have purpose and value and you are IRREPLACEABLE! I promise you will come out of this loving others and having compassion during the Holidays for people who suffer in a way you never knew. You will be able to look through the laughing crowd and spot that heartbreak in that person's eye (EVEN if they are trying to hide it!) You will be able to say the perfect thing at the perfect moment that could SAVE a life just like yours!
There is purpose even in our pain! No pain goes wasted!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28 NIV
Work Cited
Ernest Hemingway. TV Tropes. (n.d.). https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/ErnestHemingway
Is it normal to feel depressed during the holidays?. Comprehensive Primary Care. (2022, December 1). https://comprehensiveprimarycare.com/is-it-normal-to-feel-depressed-during-the-holidays/#:~:text=If%20you%20feel%20depressed%20or,primary%20care%20provider%20can%20help.
