The Start of the Season

It’s hard to believe we’ve stepped into November —a new month and the start of holiday season. Each year it seems to arrive faster than the one before. Stores are filled with decorations, calendars begin to fill with gatherings, and there’s a sense of anticipation in the air. For many, this is a time of joy and connection. But for those who are grieving, the holidays can be overwhelming and feel like a season we quietly brace ourselves for. Have you already felt yourself becoming anxious as you get ready to face the season?

Grief has a way of magnifying absence. The empty chair, the silence where laughter once filled the room — these reminders can make our hearts ache in ways words can’t capture. Yet even in this tender space, we can bring both grief and gratitude to the table. We can give thanks for the love we’ve known, even as we mourn what we’ve lost.

This year, it’s okay if your holidays look different. You can choose to participate in gatherings, or you can choose quiet. You can keep old traditions, or gently create new ones that reflect where you are in your healing. There’s no “right” way to grieve through the holidays—only the way that feels right for your heart.

Most importantly, at the start of the season, remember you are not alone.

Over the next several weeks we’ll talk about how we can manage our hearts through the holidays. One important reminder is this: Others are walking this road beside you, and God’s presence goes before you and stays with you. As the world begins to celebrate, may you find small, sacred moments of comfort—reminders that even in seasons of sorrow, love remains, and hope quietly endures.