December is upon us and with it comes the busyness of the season: twinkling lights, holiday cheer and frenzied shopping. But it is also a time of gathering darkness, short days and long, frosty nights. As winter deepens, the natural world grows quiet: leafless trees and snowy meadows shelter hibernating wildlife within.
December is a time when losses may be felt acutely as we remember those who are no longer physically with us. 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.”
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 “Adventus” which can be translated as “coming.” For Christians, Advent is a season of waiting for the Lord. Perhaps in your own grief journey you feel like you are waiting for something as well.
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 afterward, we will gain a few minutes of daylight 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, December 17, 7-8 PM CT
We’ll explore strategies for navigating the upcoming holidays.
The Grieving Brain Book Club
Second Tuesdays, monthly, begins January 13, 11AM – 12 PM.
We’ll offer strategies for navigating the coming holidays and invite group members to reflect on how they might hold grief and gratitude in their own lives.
Register by Dec 15: & email your address to Jenny Schroedel so we can send you a book. We’ll read Mary-Francis O’Conner’s “The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss”. Together, we’ll explore how grief impacts our minds and facilitates learning.
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.