Name that Christmas Tune!
The holiday music is all around, in commercials, on the radio and in the stores. Who can forget that song originally recorded by Andy Williams promising the this is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? The song tells of children playing, parties where loved ones gather, and carolers in the snow. The lyrics paint a picture of a joyful time that Noman Rockwell so brilliantly captured in his many holiday illustrations.
But for others, this is not the “Hap-happiest season of all”. Rather it seems to be more like being “In the Bleak Midwinter.” A time where frosty winds blow, and the earth stands cold and hard as iron. People are distanced and estranged from family. No one comes to visit so there doesn’t seem to be a need to decorate a tree or bake cookies. For these people, the holidays are a time of isolation and loneliness. The only wish for the season is just for it to be over.
It is not surprising that the holidays can be a time of depression. C.S Lewis wrote, “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden. It is easier to say, “My tooth is aching,” than to say, “My heart is broken.” For those who struggle with melancholy in this season know that there are Stephen Ministers who are willing to help you. Please call Sue Kuhn if you feel a listening, compassionate, and confidential Stephen Minister could help you feel the “Comfort and Joy” of the holidays.
God Peace and wishes for a Blessed Christmas,
Trish Myers, Stephen Leader