As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, many of us will also be remembering precious loved ones who have passed in 2011. There is an empty place at the table, a missing person from our Christmas photo, and one less gift to purchase. We may have already discovered we want this season to be over with before it even starts.
One new thing our family has done this year is decorate a little memorial 
Christmas tree with photos of loved ones who have passed. This allows us to remember them in a special way. Perhaps it will become a new tradition that will be passed on from generation to generation as the stories of their lives are shared. I have written the names and dates on the back of each photo and eventually hope to frame them. If you don’t have a small tree to use as a memorial tree, add their photos to your large one!
As you grieve this season, I encourage you to attend a church service http://www.centralchristian.com/henderson/events/xmas-at-central.asp, stay in the Scriptures. receive daily devotions of encouragement from http://www.griefshare.org/, and allow members of your Small Group to comfort you. Let others know how they can help – don’t expect them to know the right thing to do for you.
Other ways you can remember your loved one may include lighting a candle in memory of that person beside their photo, donating a gift to your favorite non-profit/cause, or attending a special Christmas service dedicated specifically for those grieving. Pray about what you might do to help yourself and others in your family during this time of grief – be proactive.
Perhaps you have survived a season of grief and God has given you a great idea that might help others during this time. What is one thing that has helped you through the Christmas season during a time of grief?
