Unhappy Holidays: Blessings for a Blue Christmas

How can we hope when not all is merry and bright?

We often think of the Christmas season as a time of good cheer, festive parties, and thoughtful gifts. But what happens when the reality of life stands in stark contrast to these expectations? Cancer diagnoses, divorce proceedings, and natural disasters do not care about calendar time. Smaller hardships create their own stress—travel woes, custody arrangements, money struggles, and political differences can strain our closest relationships. ...