‘Tis the season of twinkling lights, holiday cheer, and frenzied shopping. But it is also a time of gathering darkness, short days and long, frosty nights. As the winter deepens, the natural world grows quiet: leafless trees and snowy meadows shelter hibernating wildlife within.
December is a time when loss may be felt acutely, as we remember those who are no longer physically with us. Against this backdrop, Advent arrives, inviting us to slow down, to reflect, remember, and walk with grief and hope. The word “Advent” is from the Latin word “Adventus” which can be literally translated as, “coming.”
In Gayle Boss’ Advent devotional, “All Creation Waits,” she describes her own December sadness as “no reason for guilt, but as a sign of being wide awake in this world, awake enough to sense loss.”
We are now just a few weeks from the winter solstice, the shortest day followed by the longest night. This is when the shift begins. Soon after, we will gain a few more minutes of light each day. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, December darkness gives way to the promise of a new year.
As you prepare for the holidays in whatever way feels right to you, we invite you to take a moment to reflect on all that you have come through and all that you hope for. As Gayle Boss writes, “The dark is not an end, but a door. This is the way a new beginning comes.”
Grief Support (offered via Zoom)
Grief & the Holidays
Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. CT
We’ll offer strategies to navigate the upcoming holidays during a season of grief.
Finding Meaning & Purpose Through Loss
Tuesdays, Jan. 7 to Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT
This group offers an opportunity to explore the growth and transformation that can come through seasons of loss. We’ll discuss meaning-making, legacy and purpose as you chart your path forward.
Optage Hospice Chaplain Jenny Schroedel facilitates grief groups across PHS sites and in the larger community. Jenny is also an author, most recently of Naming The Child: Hope-filled Reflections on Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Death.
If you are interested in joining a group, contact Optage Hospice or call 651-746-8200. Optage is the home and community services division of Presbyterian Homes & Services.