Welcome to the Twelve Days of Christmas Grief Relief tips! It's our prayer and hope that these quick messages will help you break the ache in your soul, whether you are grieving for a loved one or attempting to encourage a grieving friend. After you read this post, I heartily recommend that you visit www.Griefshare.org . There you will find more tips on facing the holidays in this "season of grief." You will also have the opportunity to sign up for a daily devotional titled Season of Grief. By signing up, you will find a devotional in your email box every morning. This is an invaluable resource that offers bite-sized treasures of encouragement designed to help turn your heart toward our Savior. What better time to start receiving these treasures than this time of year? And now, we pray that this treasure of encouragement will also help turn your heart toward our Lord.

The Spirit of Christmas Presence
Adapted from Treasures in Darkness, A Grieving Mother Shares Her Heart

In the Bleak Midwinter

Midnight Principle: The Christmas story itself can give strength through the holiday season.

Holidays sharpen grief. Celebrating such a treasured family holiday was on our minds even on that terrible July night when we lost our sixteen-year-old son, Mark and his friend in a horrific car accident. On our way home from the hospital, Chuck grabbed my hand and barely whispered, "Christmas, how can we ever celebrate Christmas?"

I had no answer...

Christmas had always been my favorite time of year. We didn't buy many toys for our children throughout the year; that was reserved for Christmas. What great fun we always had, planning and preparing, watching for sales, loving the adrenalin of the chase and the victory of finding just the right gift at just the right price. When Mark and Daniel had wanted the most popular toy, we had done everything we could to find it. We had perpetuated our childhood family traditions; family and friends always joined us for a Christmas Eve buffet and then attended the church communion service. I always loved the candlelight service, the music, the family feeling, the preaching, the security of old family traditions. Afterward our immediate family had gathered at our home for the kids to exchange gifts and enjoy the euphoria of Christmas.

On the night of Mark's death, I concluded I would never experience such joy again... READ MORE