mourning christmas

Taking off my glove, I reached out and stroked the side of its head. It was a beautiful Calico cat and the warmth of its body was a welcome contrast to the cold winter wind.

It wasn’t mine, but I still felt compelled to pick it up and take it home. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I did. After all, it didn’t have a collar or any identification and I felt sorry for it.

Once home, I walked over to the trash can and gently, oh so gently, laid it to rest atop a bag of garbage. Later, when I left for work, I stopped the car at the end of the driveway and looked at it once last time.

Yeah, still beautiful. And yeah, still dead.

I found the Calico a few weeks ago, but the memory is still fresh in my mind. And the memory is of a dead stray cat. A cat I didn’t even know.

Can you imagine what kind of Christmas it will be for someone who has lost a family member or friend recently? It’s a good bet there’s not going to be anything “merry” about this holiday season. Not for them.

And what of those who lost someone in years past near Christmas? Each year this time comes around, it brings grief and sorrow because of a person’s passing.

Why do I bring this up? Because there are people all around us who, because of a death, will be mourning at some point during the upcoming holiday season. Because of that, why not reach out to them this year?

While I know many of us shy away from such topics, in my experience people want to talk about their loved one, and are not offended when others bring it up. In fact, many—perhaps even most—actually appreciate it when people remember their loss.

So, do you know someone like this? Someone who will spend their first Christmas without their loved one? Or someone who lost somebody near this time of year in the past?

If so, how about a quick phone call, a visit, a note, a card or even an email? Does it take a little time and effort on your part? Sure. But isn’t it worth it to make a positive difference in somebody’s life, somebody who may be feeling desperately alone and depressed right now?

I still get sad thinking about a stray cat from weeks ago, one I had never even seen before. How much more painful is it for those who have lost a loved one?

So, who are you going to contact and how are you going to contact him or her?

Please don’t let yourself off the hook—it may just be the best present that you’ll give this year.

“All of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”1

1  1 Peter 3:8