In John 14:1-4, Jesus tells me, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

My dad had a massive heart attack and died a little over five years ago. My nine-year-old son gets teary-eyed when we talk about Grandpa. My girls miss him. My mother has trouble celebrating her birthday because he lost consciousness on her birthday and died the next morning. Sometimes I find myself avoiding talking about Dad just to avoid making others sad or uncomfortable.

He was a wonderful dad.

Nothing special to anyone but his family and friends, but he was loved by all who knew him. Genuine. Loving. Kind. He loved to laugh. He gave the best hugs. He taught me to read the Bible, pray, work at all things as unto God, and to regularly attend church.

He showed me through his life that forgiveness tastes much sweeter than grudges, to treat everything and everyone with respect, and to treat another person’s property better than your own. He had a gentleness about him that most men never accomplish. He was not a college graduate, but he was wise.

I love to talk about my earthly father. I wish everyone had a dad as beautifully loving as mine! He was not perfect, but he was pretty great.

I miss him.

You may have someone who has passed on that you miss. Sometimes it is difficult during the holidays.  I don’t think it should be a downer to share a memory of a loved one around the holidays. Let them be remembered happily and let their legacy shine. Take time to giggle about the silly things you did together. Even if you shed a tear, it may lead to new holiday traditions of remembrance rather than quietly keeping the mourning all bottled up inside you.

If you are missing someone this holiday season, find someone to share that feeling with and then smile knowing that they are honored through your memories of them.

I smile even wider when I know that someday I will see my dad again one day in Heaven!

I will keep up the work God has in store for me in His earthly church, looking forward to the day I praise God in the light of His Glory…..with Dad. Let’s not be disheartened and sad at Christmas. Let’s shine God’s light on this dark world and claim the peace Jesus tells us about later in that same chapter of John:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -John 14:27

God loves us. He wants us to know His peace and joy and love in our hearts, even when we have a sad moment or a sad day or a sad season.

He is near to the broken-hearted!

Lord, I pray for those who feel lonely or who feel grief during the holiday season. Please wrap Your loving arms around them. Comfort them. Let them speak about their loved ones and keep their memory alive, but let them carry on in Your joy, being committed to the work you have for them until Jesus comes again or until you call us home. Thank you, Lord, for your love and comfort!

Amen

Emily Kilby
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