How many of you remember cassette tapes where you could fast-forward

through a song that you didn’t like and find the one you preferred to listen to over

and over again? It was never easy to guess when to stop the fast-forward button,

and so you would have to stop and start a few times. Sometimes you would fast-

forward for too long and miss the song that you really wanted to hear.

 

For many people, Christmas grief is much like that. They want to fast-forward to

the other side of Christmas to a place where they don’t have to experience the

season and the ‘song’ that goes with it.

 

Does that sound familiar?

 

Are you missing someone very special this Christmas? Is the thought of them not

being there too difficult to imagine? You don’t want the strong emotions that

come from their absence to overtake you. You would like to put your life and

Christmas on fast-forward.

 

Let’s go back to the cassette tape for a moment. While I did prefer certain songs

in the long playlist, I did take time to listen to a few others and began to enjoy

different songs as well. Sometimes I’d land on one of the less familiar songs by

accident, but decided to listen anyway. Soon, I began to appreciate those ones

on the playlist as well.

 

Your Christmas will never be the same without that special person who is no

longer present for your festivities. But do you really want to fast-forward through

this Christmas?

 

Even in the midst of your missing, you must open up your heart to the new songs

being played around you. You are not disallowing the old song to play in your

heart, you are just opening yourself up to a world, to a life, to people that love

you. Why not play a few notes for your hurting heart?

Written by: Rick Bergh

Rick is a new Member at Large on the AHPCA Board of Directors.

Copyright 2014: Rick Bergh

Used by Permission