I share this today, because I'm aware of many hurting families this holiday season
our family is grieving
the loss of Joe is still very fresh, still unbelievable
the more broken and hurting lives I see around me
the more I know that we were not made for this earth
life is a battle, filled with heartache and loss
but there is HOPE
GOD is there
and our messes are HOLY
and because of the babe born many years ago
we can celebrate right in the middle of pain
because, halleluiah, this life is not the end
this is part of a post written by
Glennon
Humanity is at its best and most brutiful within the family. And so I
think that this holiday season we should honor all different kinds of
families. Not because they are perfect, but because they are sacred.
Every family is sacred because in a family, God is there. God is love, and so where there is love between people, any people – especially broken, messed up, weak ones – there is God.
And THAT is what makes a family beautiful. It’s not the clothes and the
smiles and the decorations. It’s the struggles and the miracles that
happen when we love each other through those struggles. It’s God in there.
It’s the pain and the loss – the half dead trees that life hands us
and it’s how we say – FINE. I am going to make something beautiful out
of this. Because it may be half dead, but that means it’s also half
aLIVE. And if you are breathing and have someone, anyone to love today,
than your tree is half alive too. If you have someone to love, then you
have a family. Even if the love is messy and broken and the person you
love seems far and beyond. Where there is love, there is God.
And so whatever it looks like and feels like this year- your family is
sacred. I honor your family this year. Family is hard, but we can do
hard things.
I am proud to say that this year, I represent the broken
families. The divorced ones and the together by a string ones and the
recovering ones and the ones who have suffered great, great loss this
year. I represent the moms who didn’t whistle while they handed
ornaments to their children this year…but instead gritted their teeth
and smiled fake smiles because DAMNIT THIS HOUSE WILL HAVE SOME MOTHER FREAKING CHEER. I represent the parents who have never been so grateful for Christmas specials and movies because: I can rest. I can rest and still celebrate. I
represent the Love Warriors. The warriors who know that family is not
the people you see on the Christmas cards. It’s the sacred space between
them.
Look for the holes in those pictures this year.The spaces between
arms and curls and precious little knees. GOD IS THERE. Say a little
prayer for every family you see.
God- stay close to the family in this picture. And that one and
that one and that one. Snuggle in between them and stay all year. Remind
them , constantly, that their mess is holy.
