The Square, Oxford, Mississippi
A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
During the holidays, not everyone is all joyful, all the time. We may sing, “Joy to the World,” but some hearts are heavy.
Maybe your person has died this year, and this is the first Christmas without them. Maybe they died 25 years ago and every Christmas since brings a sadness.
Maybe you can’t be with the one you love. Your heart is in another city. [For those of a certain age, complete the song lyrics, “love the one you’re with.” I digress.]
The message we get from our “friends” social media and TV commercials and “holiday specials” streaming our way is that everyone is happy, even joyful. What’s wrong with you?
My message?
If you are feeling joyful, by all means, enjoy yourself. Spread your joy. God knows we need it.
At the same time, keep in mind, there is a lot of grief and sadness out there. Comfort the broken-hearted. Give space to those who need some. Even the Messiah in the Hebrew scriptures was thought to be “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”
