When the Holidays Feel Heavy

Friends, every year around this time, I’m reminded how the holidays can stir both joy and heartache. When the holidays feel heavy, all I can think about is how many of us will miss our loved ones on Thanksgiving and the empty chair facing us.

If you are among the many with an empty chair at the table this year, you are seen, heard, and understood here.

Grief is a challenging journey on a normal day, but as each holiday approaches it becomes even more complicated. Although I wrote this post a couple of years ago, the words are still as poignant today as they were then. If this Thanksgiving feels different for you — if someone you love is missing from the table — I hope you find comfort and connection in these words.

As we approach Thanksgiving, many of us will look upon the empty chair at the table. The hole deep within our hearts will now be staring openly at us. Holidays are hard. If you are early on in your grief journey, you may wonder how you will get through the day.

The empty chair symbolizes remembrance of a loved one who is no longer with us. Some families even leave a place setting on the table in their honor. Continue reading here: The Empty Chair.